The Making and Unmaking of Borders

We live in a world of borders. Territorial, political, juridical, and economic borders of all kinds quite literally define every aspect of life in the twenty-first century. (Nail, 2016)

Crossing borders in the recent past was probably less confusing and demanding than it is now. Institutions, social norms, and rituals made borders more rigid, and prior to the digital revolution and hyperglobalization, borders were more stable. They were never fixed but were less fluid than in today's disruptive world. We live in confusing times, where more borders are appearing all of the time and where many borders are disappearing or becoming more porous.

Individual and social anxieties are rising in response to borders being made and unmade at a phenomenal pace in the past few years. The phrase “crossing borders” unleashes a chain of associations and meanings in society today. When we think of crossing borders, national boundaries, immigrants, and passport control may immediately come to mind. Walls, fences, security barriers, and checkpoints are all associated with borders, yet many other borders exist that we have to cross multiple times each day. As borders become unstable and more fluid, individuals can become anxious and threatened. The unmaking of borders and the dismantling and loosening of border regimes remove obstacles and create radical new possibilities and opportunities for some, while threatening others. The making of new borders and the tightening of border regimes create hardship and marginalization for some and a feeling of security for others.

A border controls flows of movement. (Nail, 2016) It can act as a barrier, returning a flow of movement back on itself, or as a filter that allows some things to pass and others not. A border may also be a boundary or an edge; it can be man-made or naturally occur in the environment, suc