University of Oregon professor addresses NATO on the impact of U.S. military bases abroad

IN WORDS AND PICTURES: GILLEM NARRATES A SLIDESHOW OF HIS TOPIC HERE

EUGENE, Ore. -- (Dec. 3, 2007) -- University of Oregon professor Mark Gillem will speak on Dec. 13 at a North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) conference in Lisbon, Portugal about the geopolitical costs of urban sprawl, a subject closely related to that of his newly released first book, "America Town: Building the Outposts of Empire."

In the book, Gillem, who teaches in the UO School of Architecture and Allied Arts, evaluates the consequences of U.S. military bases around the world and throughout history. The conference, "Political and Social Impact of Military Bases: Historical Perspectives, Contemporary Challenges," will explore the political and social effects of military bases in several countries and regions, assess the impact of bases on local communities, and survey future challenges.

"I received the call to speak at the conference only two days after my book was released," said Gillem. "I said I wouldn’t have very flattering things to say about the United States military’s use of land in NATO countries, but the organizers wanted to make sure all sides were represented."

Gillem has spent the past four years developing case studies of military bases around the world. His research has taken him to Japan, South Korea and several European countries. His book is a spatial and socio-political analysis of these case study sites.

The book also examines how previous empires have used land for political power and how the use of land affects local cultures. Gillem tackles the construction of more than 800 U.S. military bases on international soil and how the use of land has spawned protests among citizens of the host nations.

"The number one complaint made about these military bases is the excess use of land by the U.S. military," he explained. "The value of land is reflected in how land is measured. In the U.S., land is measured by the acre - 43,560 square feet. In South Korea it is measured by the pyong and in Japan by the tsubo - both about 35 square feet. U.S. designers clearly don’t value land as much as designers in other countries where land is scarce - and this is reflected in the units of measure."

Gillem is at work on his second book, "Oil Camps: New Bases for New Wars." The book examines military bases in the Middle East and how post-Sept. 11 military tactics have changed the way U.S. military bases are positioned.

"Pre 9/11 U.S. military bases were generally built in the epicenter of capital cities like Seoul, Tokyo and Madrid. They were intermingled with the community and local culture," said Gillem. "After 9/11, U.S. bases are being built outside of cities in hidden locations. It is a new pattern of avoidance that supports a new type of war - the preemptive war."

About the University of Oregon
The University of Oregon is a world-class teaching and research institution and Oregon's flagship public university. The UO is a member of the Association of American Universities (AAU), an organization made up of 62 of the leading public and private research institutions in the United States and Canada. Membership in the AAU is by invitation only. The University of Oregon is one of only two AAU members in the Pacific Northwest.

Contact: Julie Brown, UO director of media relations, 541-346-3185, julbrown@uoregon.edu

Source: Karen Johnson, UO Architecture and Allied Arts, external relations and communications, 541-346-3603, karenjj@uoregon.edu

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