Social cartography, as envisaged by Vanessa Andreotti, refers to the critical and reflexive practice of mapping out the complex and intersecting terrains of social, political, cultural, and epistemological landscapes. It's a process that acknowledges the partiality and positionality of every perspective while offering a visual and conceptual tool to understand, navigate, and engage with diverse worldviews and power dynamics. Through social cartography, Andreotti emphasizes the importance of being acutely aware of how dominant narratives shape our understanding of reality, while also making visible the marginalized, subjugated, and alternative knowledges that challenge and enrich our collective understanding. This approach is inherently dialogical and ethical, aiming to foster spaces for genuine intercultural learning and decolonial engagement.
See also: global citizenship, relational justice, white supremacy, power relation, global south