Borderlines and Borderlands: Political Oddities at the Edge of the Nation-State: Political Oddities at the Edge of the Nation-State

by Alexander C. Diener (Editor), Joshua Hagen (Editor)

From our earliest schooldays, we are shown the world as a colorful collage of countries, each defined by their own immutable borders. What we often don't realize is that every political boundary was created by people. No political border is more natural or real than another, yet some international borders make no apparent sense at all. While focusing on some of these unusual border shapes, this fascinating book highlights the important truth that all borders, even those that appear "normal," are social constructions. In an era where the continued relevance of the nation state is being questioned and where transnationalism is altering the degree to which borders effectively demarcate spaces of belonging, the contributors argue that this point is vital to our understanding of the world. The unique and compelling histories of some of the world's oddest borders provide an ideal context for this group of experts to offer accessible and enlightening discussions of cultural globalization, economic integration, international migration, imperialism, postcolonialism, global terrorism, nationalism, and supranationalism. Each author's regional expertise enriches a textured account of the historical context in which these borders came into existence as well as their historical and ongoing influence on the people and states they bound. To view more maps from the David Rumsey Map Collection, visit www.davidrumsey.com.

Genres: Politics, Geography

292 pages, Paperback

First published January 16, 2010

Reviews

[Andrew]

Only two reviews? Really? Because this was a really pretty interesting selection of essays about the margins of the modern nation-state. There wasn't anything especially groundbreaking here, but in made for a damn fine set of case studies, on, among other places, Palestine, Bangladesh, Kyrgyzstan, and Washington State. Sincerely recommended to anyone interested in geography and its implications in the modern world.

[Hunter Marston · Rating 3 out of 5]

A great range of case studies on border disputes and their origins. Ultimately, the edition fails to move beyond the Westphalian system of sovereign states that it simultaneously labels as arbitrary and inconclusive.