Description
In this paper, we argue that the term 'militarisation' does not adequately capture the complex negotiations between the civil and military spheres. This argument is grounded in our research, which established the Fylingdales Archive at the UK’s Ballistic Missile Early Warning Station, RAF Fylingdales in North Yorkshire. The paper will explore the complex multiplicities revealed in the archive materials held on the base. Through this material, we discovered that electronic music technology preceded technologies related to ballistic missile early warning. The personnel involved in the development of the site historically exhibited diversity in terms of race, gender, and roles. We also explore how the military collaborates creatively with large multinational and national private sector contractors. Consequently, we posit that 'militaries' are an accumulation of various lived experiences and day-to-day practices, encompassing encounters between the civil, military, and private sector engagements. This leads us to call for a focused approach in critical military geographies that emphasizes how lived experiences and more-than-human processes contribute to the production of military phenomena.
