Fire’s role in deterritorialization and reterritorialization processes in La Araucanía 1862 – 1930

Abstract

This paper analyses territorial transformation processes linked to deterritorialization and reterritorialization phenomena that took place in La Araucanía. Departing from the identification of a common agent -fire-, it applies content analyses approach over documentary sources associated to occupational historical processes, identifying four key dimensions that make it possible to understand fire’s role into the transformation of spatial processes. The main findings indicate that fire is constantly connected to deterritorialization and reterritorialization processes, being part of the inhabitant’s practices as well as a tool for territorial power and control.