This study develops a geographic theory relating to sub-imperial states and resistance to them. The theory is centred on what can be called the government-business-media (GBM) complex, whilst resistance to such states is characterised as counter-imperialist discourses. The theory is applied primarily to South Africa’s (SA’s) interactions with the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region. The aim is to assess the state of SA’s sub-imperialism and evaluate the claim that this sub-imperialism is in crisis. The research findings are based on media material drawn from, and interviews conducted in, Botswana, Zambia and SA. The thesis outlines how sub-imperialism should be regarded as a distinct analytical and theoretical phenomenon. It explores the theoretical context in which the GBM complex and counter-imperialist discourses may be viewed. Using this theoretical framework, the study then traces the historical geographical development of SA’s GBM complex. Building on this, the thesis identifies and examines regional responses and attitudes to SA’s post-apartheid political, business and cultural-media engagement with the region, by analysing counter-imperialist discourses to SA during this period. In order to assess the current state of SA’s sub-imperialism, case studies were taken from the following four areas which cover crucial aspects of SA’s post-apartheid engagement with the region: SA’s parastatal expansion (Eskom); SA’s peacemaking role (Zimbabwe); SA’s state-driven rhetoric of multiculturalism and tolerance (xenophobia); and SA’s hosting of mega-events (2010 Football World Cup). In each of these areas the intended geopolitical and geoeconomic discourses of the GBM complex, and the corresponding responses in the region, are investigated. It is concluded that there is a discrepancy between the intended discourses of the GBM complex and the responses from the region, giving rise to counter-imperialist discourses. These discourses support the claim that SA’s sub-imperialism is in crisis.

Cette thèse porte sur l’étude des frontières et des limites qui marquent les rapports entre les morts et les vivants dans la ville en général, et plus particulièrement à Beyrouth, ville multiconfessionnelle. Elle pose la question de la nature des espaces, places et territoire de la mort, inscrite dans ses formes les plus concrètes : les cimetières, et les limites qu’ils entretiennent entre eux d’une part et avec la ville, d’autre part. Elle décrit leur impact sur l’organisation spatiale au sein de la ville tout en interrogeant les stratégies et les enjeux adoptés par chaque groupe pour affirmer sa présence face aux autres.Notre choix s'est porté sur la ville de Beyrouth parce que cette dernière présente une histoire sociale, culturelle, religieuse et urbaine riche et particulière, et a subi des changements démographiques, urbanistiques et paysagers radicaux au cours de l’Histoire et surtout durant les dernières années de guerre (1975-1990) et de l’après-guerre. Après les différents conflits, les espaces de la mort, par leur emplacement et les limites qu’ils entretiennent entre eux et avec la ville, constituent une véritable césure physique et symbolique, conditionnée par les appartenances politiques, sociales ou religieuses. Ces espaces semblent être instrumentés par les vivants pour justifier leurs positions spatiales ou s’arroger le droit d’occuper tel lieu. Dans ce cas, les cimetières constitueraient de véritables enjeux, aux implications diverses, qui peuvent aller jusqu'à fragmenter et restructurer le paysage urbain d’une ville. À Beyrouth, suite aux différentes guerres, le lien est manifeste entre la géographie de la mort et la géopolitique. / This thesis focuses on the study of borders and boundaries that mark the relations between the dead and the living in multiconfessional cities in general, and particularly Beirut. It raises the question of the nature of spaces, places and territories of death in its most concrete forms: the cemeteries, and the limits between them on one hand and with the city on the other. It describes their impact on the spatial organization of the city while questioning the strategies and challenges of each group to assert its presence against the other. Our choice focuses on the city of Beirut because of its social, cultural, religious and urban structure. It has undergone demographic changes through history, especially during the last years of the civil war (1975-1990) and the post-war period. After these conflicts, the spaces of death, their location and their boundaries, have created real physical and symbolic schisms, conditioned by political, social or religious affiliations. These spaces appear to be instrumented by the living to justify their positions in space or to assume the right to occupy such a place. In this case, the cemeteries constitute real challenges for research and entail consequences on space, which can be fragmented and restructured along with the urban landscape.