Geoadria, Vol. 29 No. 1, 2024.
Original scientific paper
https://doi.org/10.15291/geoadria.4451
Conflict of geopolitical discourse illustrated by the example of the geographical name of Lokrum island
Julijan Sutlović
orcid.org/0009-0005-7843-5383
; University of Zadar, Department of Geography, Zadar, Croatia
*
* Corresponding author.
Abstract
The conflict of geopolitical discourse was illustrated through the example of varying use of geographical names for Lokrum Island on early modern nautical charts and in navigation guides. Analysing the geopolitical dynamics between the Venetian Republic and the Dubrovnik Republic, the research highlights how geographical names (toponyms) reflect and influence territorial ambitions and political narratives. The methodological approach employs a comparative qualitative analysis of historical cartographic sources and navigation guides, using an interdisciplinary approach that includes contemporary research paradigms such as border studies, imagology, cultural geography, and geopolitical discourse to investigate the use of toponyms in the context of various factors such as political ideology and cartographic tradition. The results reveal that naming Lokrum Island with multiple names, such as Lacroma, Croma and similar names, and Scoglio di San Marco, served as a tool for asserting dominance and shaping political discourse. Special attention is given to toponyms as political and cultural hegemony instruments, demonstrating how powerful states used cartography to justify their territorial claims. The analysis shows that cartographic representations not only reflect the construction and perpetuation of ideological narratives but also actively participate in it. This research contributes to a broader understanding of how cartography and toponymy function as instruments within geopolitical discourse, providing new insights into geopolitical processes.
Keywords
geopolitical discourse; toponym; Lokrum Island; Adriatic Sea; history of cartography; nautical charts
Hrčak ID:
323102
URI
Publication date:
30.6.2024.
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