Toponymy and Geopolitics: Place and Street (Re)Naming in Diplomacy and Global Politics - Wale Adebanwi

This book examines how place and street naming practices by nations, regions, and ethno-racial and cultural groups have become a visible means of 'soft power' in articulating and defending geopolitical interests in contemporary international relations. This is particularly evident in geopolitical struggles within and beyond national borders—defined by cross-border tensions, regional power struggles, or manifesting as ‘diplomacy by other means.’ In light of the uses and abuses of place and street names as expressions of solidarity, diplomatic friendship, and harmony or, conversely, as demonstrations of conflict, resistance, hostility, and retaliation among states, nations, and groups, this volume rethinks the relationship among street and place names, power, international relations, diplomacy, and geostrategic interests in the contemporary global context. The chapters reflect critical geopolitics by examining how place and street names inscribe political ideologies and historical narratives onto landscapes while contributing to the literature on the symbolic dimensions of international relations. It bridges geography, international relations, sociology, urban studies, and cultural politics in offering a comprehensive framework for understanding the role of place and street renaming in global politics.

This book is essential reading for students, scholars, and researchers in geography, international relations, political science, urban studies, and cultural studies. It will appeal to those interested in critical geopolitics, symbolic politics, diplomacy, and soft power. Policymakers, urban planners, and practitioners in public diplomacy and cultural heritage management will find valuable insights into how naming practices shape political landscapes and international relations.