Borders and Bordering

Abstract

The renaissance of border studies during the past decade has been characterized by a crossing of disciplinary borders, bringing together geographers, political scientists, sociologists, anthropologists, historians, literary scholars, legal experts, along with border practitioners engaged in the practical aspects of boundary demarcation, delimitation and management. This growth in border studies runs contrary to much of the globalization discourse which was prevalent during the late 1980s and early 1990s, positing a new ‘borderless’ world, in which the barrier impact of borders became insignificant. The article points to the common use of terminology which can create a shared border discourse among a diverse group of scholars, such as boundary demarcation, the nature of frontiers, borderlands and transition zones, and the ways in which borders are crossed. The article also discusses the reclosing of borders which is taking place as a result of 9/11 as part of the stated war against global terror.

Euroregion as an Entity Stimulating the Sustainable Development of the Cross-Border Market for Cultural Services in a City Divided by a Border

“…According to Schulz et al it is this type-"divided cities"-that can be considered as true "twin cities" [3] (pp. [4][5], which, as a result of various historical experiences, usually bear names similar to each other, and are recognisable in both languages, as is the case in the cities of Cieszyn andČeský Těšín. On the one hand, both parts of the city can remain in almost complete separation, but on the other hand they can constitute a relatively uniform urban organism in terms of infrastructure, social aspects and economy.…”

“…Sociologists, in turn, focus their research on the transformation of the social structures of those cities divided by an international border. In particular, they are interested in the exchange processes in the sphere of values, habits and customs taking place as a result of the "fading away" of the border, which for a long time had separated neighbouring communities from each other [4][5][6]. Representatives of sciences such as social psychology or cultural anthropology focus their research upon the identity of the collective communities living in such divided cities.…”

Seeking identity: the transborder lives of mainland Chinese families with children born in Hong Kong

“…From such a perspective, the border is an actor-driven process termed 'bordering', which is more than just a line of spatial delimitation (Brambilla 2009). Bordering can be considered as the everyday construction of borders through ideology, cultural mediation, discourses, political institutions and attitudes (Newman 2006). Transborder activities are embedded in the history and culture of space (Levitt and Jaworsky 2007).…”

Borders as a Space of Interaction

“…As Balibar and other border scholars argue, a significant feature of state borders is that they exist not only at the edge of the territory but also in the state's interior, as invisible, institutional markers, serving to ease as well as to restrict mobility inside society (Balibar, 2004;Newman, 2006;Rumford, 2006). Most important for our discussion here, perhaps, is that the image of state interaction with immigrants that it seems to entail, does not correspond with reality.…”

“…Rather, borders are better understood as political processes, expressive of shifting political purposes, which become meaningful in light of political aims, ideas, and ideals (Crowley, 2002, p. 28;Newman, 2006). Rather, borders are better understood as political processes, expressive of shifting political purposes, which become meaningful in light of political aims, ideas, and ideals (Crowley, 2002, p. 28;Newman, 2006).…”