Protectable life: tracing the inherent violence of protection

Abstract Responding to Thomas Gregory’s text, Weaponizing Civilian Protection, this review analyses the argument in light ofthe experience of the Second Trump Administration. It argues that this should prompt a deeper reevaluation of the concept of civilian protection. Instead of being something previously desirable which has now been “weaponised”, a longer and darker colonial genealogy of protection emerges. From this vantage point, protection has always been as much about control and violence as it has been about valuing human life. Gregory's text opens the door to to these insights, but does not pursue the implications fully.