Paper short abstract:

Prisoners in many countries are isolated to separate them from each other. Nonetheless, they often control prison spaces and develop practices that are oral, communal, and based on mutual aid. This paper examines such communities/practices and compares them to other kinds of exilic communities.

Paper long abstract:

Prisoners in many countries such as the US and Turkey are placed in isolation to separate them from each other. Nonetheless, they often take control of prison spaces and develop practices that are oral, communal, and based on mutual aid. This paper examines such communities/practices and compares them to other kinds of exilic communities. It examines how prisoners create coalitions or "loyalty bargains" to obtain resources that help them build and maintain community. It compares them with other historical instances of exile including Cossacks, Zapatistas, and others.