postalterritorial

Postalterritorial is a term used in political geography, postcolonial studies, and related fields to describe a mode of thought and governance that moves beyond traditional state-centered territoriality. It refers to processes and spaces where political authority, social belonging, and legal jurisdiction are not tied solely to fixed borders, and where sovereignty is reconfigured through transnational, supranational, or hybrid arrangements. In this view, territorial boundaries remain relevant but are decentered and deterritorialized by globalization, migration, information networks, and economic integration.

Origins and usage have roots in discussions of globalization and postcolonial critiques, urban studies of cross-border metropolitan regions, and analyses of digital sovereignty. The term is used to describe realities in which citizens, firms, and technologies operate across borders in ways that render classic sovereignty incomplete. It emphasizes that power and legitimacy can arise from networks, platforms, and multi-layer governance rather than from a single territorial sovereign.

Key features of postalterritorial thought include porous borders, layered or shared sovereignties, and governance that operates across multiple scales—local, regional, national, international, and transnational. Non-state actors, including international organizations, civil society, and multinational corporations, play prominent roles. Space is understood as relational, with identity and authority emerging through networks, negotiations, and legal arrangements rather than solely through maps and treaties.

Critics warn that the concept can obscure power asymmetries and risk rebranding existing practices without improving accountability. Others argue it may be too vague for empirical analysis or may downplay state responsibilities. Proponents point to its usefulness for analyzing cross-border collaboration in areas such as trade, migration, digital governance, and climate policy.