Staff profile

I am a feminist cultural and political geographer. I received my PhD in Geography from the University of Colorado-Boulder in 2000. Over the past two decades, my work has contributed to feminist political geography, cultural geography, urban geography, Turkish studies, geographies of religion, and spatial theory. From 2016-2022, I served as an editor of cultural geographies (Sage). 

The strands of my work converge on questions of difference, politics, and space. I ask: What is ‘difference,’ how does it emerge, how does it become political, and what is at stake in this process? What are the embodied, affective, and topological dimensions of the (geo)political? How can we rethink core geographical concepts such that they become tools for a feminist and decolonial politics? How might geographical thought and research practice unleash new political potentialities? These questions animate my ongoing reading, teaching, and writing in geography.

I am especially pleased to highlight my recently published book with Ben Anderson, The Politics of Feeling: Populism, Progressivism, Liberalism (2025), available here from Goldsmiths Press in the UK and here from MIT in the US. 

 

 

• Affect and Politics
• Deleuze
• Topology
• Creative Geographies
• Political Geography
• Cultural Geography
• Gender
• Social Theory
• Middle East
• Refugees
• Religion
• Trauma Literature and Trauma Studies
• Psychoanalysis

Chapter in book

• Circuits of Consumption, Desire and Piety
  
  Gokariksel, B., & Secor, A. (2024). Circuits of Consumption, Desire and Piety. In B. Krawietz & F. Gauthier (Eds.), Routledge Handbook of Global Islam and Consumer Culture (pp. 247-260). Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003152712-21
• Beyond the symbolism of the headscarf: the assemblage of veiling and the headscarf as an agentic thing
  
  Gökarıksel, B., & Secor, A. J. (2020). Beyond the symbolism of the headscarf: the assemblage of veiling and the headscarf as an agentic thing. In V. Narayanan (Ed.), The Wiley-Blackwell Companion to Material Religion (pp. 591-616). John Wiley and Sons.
• Embodiment and Memory in the Geopolitics of Trauma
  
  Ehrkamp, P., Loyd, J., & Secor, A. (2019). Embodiment and Memory in the Geopolitics of Trauma. In J. Fluri, K. Mitchell, & R. Jones (Eds.), Handbook on Critical Geographies of Migration (pp. 117-129). Edward Elgar Press.
• I love death: War in Syria and the Anxiety of the Other
  
  Secor, A. J. (2018). I love death: War in Syria and the Anxiety of the Other. In I. Kapoor (Ed.), Psychoanalysis and the GlObal (pp. 97-115). Nebraska University Press.
• What Makes a Commodity Islamic? The Case of Veiling Fashion in Turkey.
  
  Gökarıksel, B., & Secor, A. (2015). What Makes a Commodity Islamic? The Case of Veiling Fashion in Turkey. In A. Jafari & Ö Sandıkcı (Eds.), Islam, Marketing, and Consumption: Critical Perspectives on the Intersections (pp. 123-138). Routledge.
• Mapping trauma: topography to topology
  
  Blum, V., & Secor, A. (2014). Mapping trauma: topography to topology. In S. Pile & P. Kingsbury (Eds.), Psychoanalytic Geographies (pp. 103-116). Ashgate Publishing.
• Transnational networks of veiling-fashion between Turkey and Western Europe
  
  Gökarıksel, B., & Secor, A. (2013). Transnational networks of veiling-fashion between Turkey and Western Europe. In E. Tarlo & A. Moors (Eds.), Islamic Fashion and Anti-Fashion (pp. 157-167). Bloomsbury Academic.
• ‘You can't know how they are inside’: The ambivalence of veiling and discourses of the other in Turkey
  
  Gökarıksel, B., & Secor, A. (2012). ‘You can’t know how they are inside’: The ambivalence of veiling and discourses of the other in Turkey. In L. Kong, P. Hopkins, & B. Olson (Eds.), Religion and Place: Landscape, Politics, and Piety (pp. 95-114). Springer Verlag.
• An unrecognizable condition has arrived: Law, violence, and the state of exception
  
  Secor, A. J. (2006). An unrecognizable condition has arrived: Law, violence, and the state of exception. In D. Gregory & A. Pred (Eds.), Violent Geographies: Fear, Terror, and Political Violence (pp. 37-53). Routledge.
• Islamism, democracy and the political production of the headscarf issue in Turkey.
  
  Falah, G., Nagel, C., & Secor, A. (2005). Islamism, democracy and the political production of the headscarf issue in Turkey. In Geographies of Muslim Women: Gender, Religion and Space (pp. 203-225). Guilford.
• Feminizing electoral geography
  
  Secor, A. J. (2004). Feminizing electoral geography. In L. Staeheli, E. Kofman, & L. Peake (Eds.), Mapping Women, Making Politics (pp. 261-272). Routledge.
• Discourses of globalization and Islamist politics: Beyond global-local.
  
  Secor, A. J. (2004). Discourses of globalization and Islamist politics: Beyond global-local. In J. O’Loughlin, L. Staeheli, & E. Greenberg (Eds.), Globalization and its Outcomes (pp. 279-295). Guilford.

Edited book

• A Place More Void
  
  Kingsbury, P., & Secor, A. J. (Eds.). (2021). A Place More Void. University of Nebraska Press.
• The Wiley Blackwell Companion to Political Geography
  
  Agne, J., Mamadouh, V., Secor, A., & Sharp, J. (Eds.). (2015). The Wiley Blackwell Companion to Political Geography. John Wiley and Sons.

Journal Article

• Responding: Spacetimeunconscious[ing] both heavy and light
  
  Secor, A. J. (2025). Responding: Spacetimeunconscious[ing] both heavy and light. Dialogues in Human Geography, 15(2), 214-218. https://doi.org/10.1177/20438206251316015
• Love and Work: Affect and Ideology Beyond ‘The Great Resignation’
  
  Secor, A. J., Ruez, D., & Cockayne, D. (2024). Love and Work: Affect and Ideology Beyond ‘The Great Resignation’. New Formations, 112, 94-112. https://doi.org/10.3898/newf%3A112.05.2024
• Affect and Ideology
  
  Secor, A. J., & Anderson, B. (2024). Affect and Ideology. New Formations, 112, 4-15. https://doi.org/10.3898/newf%3A112.editorial.2024
• Lockdown time, time loops, and the crisis of the future
  
  Secor, A. J., & Blum, V. (2023). Lockdown time, time loops, and the crisis of the future. Psychoanalysis, Culture & Society, 28, 250–267. https://doi.org/10.1057/s41282-023-00379-4
• The space of encounter and the making of difference: The entangled lives of Alevi and Sunni neighbours in Turkey
  
  Gökarıksel, B., & Secor, A. J. (2023). The space of encounter and the making of difference: The entangled lives of Alevi and Sunni neighbours in Turkey. Transactions of the Institute of British Geographers, 48(2), 380-394. https://doi.org/10.1111/tran.12584
• (Re)birthing the maternal
  
  Secor, A. J. (2023). (Re)birthing the maternal. Transpositiones, 2(1), 77-92. https://doi.org/10.14220/trns.2023.2.1.77
• Encountering Berlant part two: Cruel and other optimisms
  
  Anderson, B., Awal, A., Cockayne, D., Greenhough, B., Linz, J., Mazumdar, A., Nassar, A., Pettit, H., Roe, E. J., Ruez, D., Salas Landa, M., Secor, A., & Williams, A. (2023). Encountering Berlant part two: Cruel and other optimisms. The Geographical Journal, 189(1), 143-160. https://doi.org/10.1111/geoj.12493
• Geopolitics of Disability and the Ablenationalism of Refuge
  
  Loyd, J. M., Secor, A. J., & Ehrkamp, P. (2023). Geopolitics of Disability and the Ablenationalism of Refuge. Geopolitics. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1080/14650045.2023.2185139
• Spacetimeunconscious
  
  Secor, A. J. (2023). Spacetimeunconscious. Dialogues in Human Geography. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1177/20438206231191763
• The problem of the future in the spacetime of resettlement: Iraqi refugees in the U.S
  
  Secor, A. J., Ehrkamp, P., & Loyd, J. M. (2022). The problem of the future in the spacetime of resettlement: Iraqi refugees in the U.S. Environment and Planning D: Society and Space, 40(3), 508-527. https://doi.org/10.1177/02637758221088865
• Propositions on right-wing populism: Available, excessive, optimistic
  
  Anderson, B., & Secor, A. (2022). Propositions on right-wing populism: Available, excessive, optimistic. Political Geography, 96, Article 102608. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.polgeo.2022.102608
• Uneasy Neighbors: The Making of Sectarian Difference and Alevi Precarity in Urban Turkey
  
  Gökarıksel, B., & Secor, A. J. (2022). Uneasy Neighbors: The Making of Sectarian Difference and Alevi Precarity in Urban Turkey. International Journal of Middle East Studies, 54(2), 243-259. https://doi.org/10.1017/s0020743822000162
• Trauma as Displacement: Observations from Refugee Resettlement
  
  Ehrkamp, P., Loyd, J. M., & Secor, A. J. (2022). Trauma as Displacement: Observations from Refugee Resettlement. Annals of the American Association of Geographers, 112(3), 715-722. https://doi.org/10.1080/24694452.2021.1956296
• Negativity: space, politics and affects
  
  Dekeyser, T., Secor, A., Rose, M., Bissell, D., Zhang, V., & Romanillos, J. L. (2022). Negativity: space, politics and affects. Cultural Geographies, 29(1), 5-21. https://doi.org/10.1177/14744740211058080
• Undoing mastery: With ambivalence?
  
  Linz, J., & Secor, A. J. (2021). Undoing mastery: With ambivalence?. Dialogues in Human Geography, 11(1), 108-111. https://doi.org/10.1177/2043820621995626
• Affective geopolitics: Anxiety, pain, and ethics in the encounter with Syrian refugees in Turkey
  
  Gökarıksel, B., & Secor, A. J. (2020). Affective geopolitics: Anxiety, pain, and ethics in the encounter with Syrian refugees in Turkey. Environment and Planning C: Politics and Space, 38, Article 7-8. https://doi.org/10.1177/2399654418814257
• Thinking space differently: Deleuze's Möbius topology for a theorisation of the encounter
  
  Cockayne, D. G., Ruez, D., & Secor, A. J. (2020). Thinking space differently: Deleuze’s Möbius topology for a theorisation of the encounter. Transactions of the Institute of British Geographers, 45(1), 194-207. https://doi.org/10.1111/tran.12311
• Walter Benja-Memes
  
  Hardesty, R., Linz, J., & Secor, A. J. (2019). Walter Benja-Memes. GeoHumanities : Space, Place, and the Humanities., 5(2), 496-513. https://doi.org/10.1080/2373566x.2019.1624188
• A geopolitics of trauma: Refugee administration and protracted uncertainty in Turkey
  
  Loyd, J. M., Ehrkamp, P., & Secor, A. J. (2018). A geopolitics of trauma: Refugee administration and protracted uncertainty in Turkey. Transactions of the Institute of British Geographers, 43(3), 377-389. https://doi.org/10.1111/tran.12234
• Devout Muslim masculinities: the moral geographies and everyday practices of being men in Turkey
  
  Gökarıksel, B., & Secor, A. J. (2017). Devout Muslim masculinities: the moral geographies and everyday practices of being men in Turkey. Gender, Place and Culture, 24(3). https://doi.org/10.1080/0966369x.2017.1314948
• Between ontology and representation
  
  Cockayne, D. G., Ruez, D., & Secor, A. (2017). Between ontology and representation. Progress in Human Geography, 41(5). https://doi.org/10.1177/0309132516650028
• Becoming minor
  
  Secor, A., & Linz, J. (2017). Becoming minor. Environment and Planning D: Society and Space, 35(4). https://doi.org/10.1177/0263775817710075
• The post-Islamist problematic: questions of religion and difference in everyday life
  
  Gökarıksel, B., & Secor, A. (2017). The post-Islamist problematic: questions of religion and difference in everyday life. Social and Cultural Geography, 18(5). https://doi.org/10.1080/14649365.2016.1210669
• Post-secular geographies and the problem of pluralism: Religion and everyday life in Istanbul, Turkey
  
  Gökarıksel, B., & Secor, A. (2015). Post-secular geographies and the problem of pluralism: Religion and everyday life in Istanbul, Turkey. Political Geography, 46. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.polgeo.2014.10.006
• Towards a post-mathematical topology
  
  Martin, L., & Secor, A. J. (2014). Towards a post-mathematical topology. Progress in Human Geography, 38(3), 420-438. https://doi.org/10.1177/0309132513508209
• The Veil, Desire, and the Gaze: Turning the Inside Out
  
  Gökarıksel, B., & Secor, A. (2014). The Veil, Desire, and the Gaze: Turning the Inside Out. Signs: Journal of Women in Culture and Society, 40(1). https://doi.org/10.1086/676897
• 2012 Urban Geography Plenary Lecture Topological City
  
  Secor, A. (2013). 2012 Urban Geography Plenary Lecture Topological City. Urban Geography, 34(4). https://doi.org/10.1080/02723638.2013.778698
• “Even I Was Tempted”: The Moral Ambivalence and Ethical Practice of Veiling-Fashion in Turkey
  
  Gökarıksel, B., & Secor, A. (2012). “Even I Was Tempted”: The Moral Ambivalence and Ethical Practice of Veiling-Fashion in Turkey. Annals of the Association of American Geographers, 102(4). https://doi.org/10.1080/00045608.2011.601221
• Turkey's Democracy: A Model for the Troubled Middle East?
  
  Secor, A. (2011). Turkey’s Democracy: A Model for the Troubled Middle East?. Eurasian Geography and Economics, 52(2). https://doi.org/10.2747/1539-7216.52.2.157
• Critical Infrastructure: Mapping the Leaky Plumbing of US Hegemony
  
  Roberts, S., Secor, A., & Zook, M. (2011). Critical Infrastructure: Mapping the Leaky Plumbing of US Hegemony. Antipode, 44(1). https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-8330.2011.00931.x
• Psychotopologies: Closing the Circuit between Psychic and Material Space
  
  Blum, V., & Secor, A. (2011). Psychotopologies: Closing the Circuit between Psychic and Material Space. Environment and Planning D: Society and Space, 29(6). https://doi.org/10.1068/d11910
• Between Fashion andTesettür
  
  Gökarıksel, B., & Secor, A. (2010). Between Fashion andTesettür. Journal of Middle East Women’s Studies, 6(3). https://doi.org/10.2979/mew.2010.6.3.118
• Islamic-ness in the life of a commodity: veiling-fashion in Turkey
  
  Gökarıksel, B., & Secor, A. (2010). Islamic-ness in the life of a commodity: veiling-fashion in Turkey. Transactions of the Institute of British Geographers, 35(3). https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1475-5661.2010.00384.x
• New transnational geographies of Islamism, capitalism and subjectivity: the veiling-fashion industry in Turkey
  
  Gökarıksel, B., & Secor, A. J. (2009). New transnational geographies of Islamism, capitalism and subjectivity: the veiling-fashion industry in Turkey. Area, 41(1). https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1475-4762.2008.00849.x
• "Everywhere and Nowhere: The Exception and the Topological Challenge to Geography"
  
  Belcher, O., Martin, L., Secor, A., Simon, S., & Wilson, T. (2008). "Everywhere and Nowhere: The Exception and the Topological Challenge to Geography". Antipode, 40(4), 499-503. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-8330.2008.00620.x
• Žižek's Dialectics of Difference and the Problem of Space
  
  Secor, A. J. (2008). Žižek’s Dialectics of Difference and the Problem of Space. Environment and Planning A, 40(11). https://doi.org/10.1068/a40269
• Review essay: Territory, enmity, and American globalism
  
  Secor, A. (2007). Review essay: Territory, enmity, and American globalism. Review of International Political Economy, 14(3). https://doi.org/10.1080/09692290701395767
• Between Longing and Despair: State, Space, and Subjectivity in Turkey
  
  Secor, A. J. (2007). Between Longing and Despair: State, Space, and Subjectivity in Turkey. Environment and Planning D: Society and Space, 25(1). https://doi.org/10.1068/d0605
• Social and political trust in Istanbul and Moscow: A comparative analysis of individual and neighbourhood effects.
  
  Secor, A. J., & O’Loughlin, J. (2005). Social and political trust in Istanbul and Moscow: A comparative analysis of individual and neighbourhood effects. Transactions of the Institute for British Geographers, 30(1), 66-82.
• “There Is an Istanbul That Belongs to Me”: Citizenship, Space, and Identity in the City
  
  Secor, A. (2004). “There Is an Istanbul That Belongs to Me”: Citizenship, Space, and Identity in the City. Annals of the Association of American Geographers, 94(2). https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-8306.2004.09402012.x
• Citizenship in the City: Identity, Community, and Rights Among Women Migrants to Istanbul
  
  Secor, A. J. (2003). Citizenship in the City: Identity, Community, and Rights Among Women Migrants to Istanbul. Urban Geography, 24(2). https://doi.org/10.2747/0272-3638.24.2.147
• Belaboring Gender: The Spatial Practice of Work and the Politics of ‘Making Do’ in Istanbul
  
  Secor, A. J. (2003). Belaboring Gender: The Spatial Practice of Work and the Politics of ‘Making Do’ in Istanbul. Environment and Planning A, 35(12). https://doi.org/10.1068/a3639
• Neoliberal Geopolitics
  
  Roberts, S., Secor, A., & Sparke, M. (2003). Neoliberal Geopolitics. Antipode, 35(5). https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-8330.2003.00363.x
• The Veil and Urban Space in Istanbul: Women's dress, mobility and Islamic knowledge
  
  Secor, A. J. (2002). The Veil and Urban Space in Istanbul: Women’s dress, mobility and Islamic knowledge. Gender, Place and Culture, 9(1). https://doi.org/10.1080/09663690120115010
• Toward a Feminist Counter-geopolitics: Gender, Space and Islamist Politics in Istanbul
  
  Secor, A. J. (2001). Toward a Feminist Counter-geopolitics: Gender, Space and Islamist Politics in Istanbul. Space and Polity, 5(3). https://doi.org/10.1080/13562570120104409
• Islamist politics: Antisystemic or post‐modern movements?
  
  Secor, A. (2001). Islamist politics: Antisystemic or post‐modern movements?. Geopolitics, 6(3). https://doi.org/10.1080/14650040108407731
• Ideologies in crisis: political cleavages and electoral politics in Turkey in the 1990s
  
  Secor, A. (2001). Ideologies in crisis: political cleavages and electoral politics in Turkey in the 1990s. Political Geography, 20(5). https://doi.org/10.1016/s0962-6298%2801%2900011-7
• Gender, Orientalism and Class in Lady Mary Wortley Montagu’s Turkish Embassy Letters: To Persons of Distinction, Men of Letters &c.
  
  Secor, A. (1999). Gender, Orientalism and Class in Lady Mary Wortley Montagu’s Turkish Embassy Letters: To Persons of Distinction, Men of Letters &c. Ecumene : A Journal of Environment, Culture, Meaning., 6(4), 375-398.

Monograph

• The Politics of Feeling: Populism, Progressivism, Liberalism
  
  Secor, A., & Anderson, B. (2025). The Politics of Feeling: Populism, Progressivism, Liberalism. Goldsmiths Press.