Description
Book SynopsisFrom 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, econo
Trade ReviewThis book presents a convincing argument that forecasts of a borderless world are, at best, naïve. Reinforced by fascinating little-known facts and a conscious commitment to historical background, this impressive collection of insightful, carefully edited case studies hangs together nicely as a lively, up-to-date exploration of boundary issues in both the developed and the developing worlds. It’s also a good read for anyone curious about the world. -- Mark Monmonier, Syracuse University
The forces of globalization may be challenging the traditional prerogatives of the territorial state, but this volume clearly shows that we are a long way from a postterritorial world. Through a fascinating set of case studies—ranging from the prominent to the obscure—the book offers compelling evidence that interstate boundary conflicts are persistent, important features of the international scene. -- Alexander B. Murphy, University of Oregon
A great book. I'm going to highly recommend it as a supplementary reading. -- Joseph L. Warner, Florida State College, Jacksonville
Table of ContentsChapter 1: Introduction: Borders, Identity, and Geopolitics Alexander C. Diener and Joshua Hagen Chapter 2: The Border Enclaves of India and Bangladesh: The Forgotten Lands Reece Jones Chapter 3: The Uzbekistan-Kyrgyzstan Boundary: Stalin's Cartography, Post-Soviet Geography Nick Megoran Chapter 4: The Wakhan Corridor: Endgame of the Great Game William C. Rowe Chapter 5: The Caprivi Strip of Namibia: Shifting Sovereignty and the Negotiation of Boundaries Robert Lloyd Chapter 6: The Renaissance of a Border That Never Died: The Green Line between Israel and the West Bank David Newman Chapter 7: Locating Kurdistan: Contextualizing the Region's Ambiguous Boundaries Karen Culcasi Chapter 8: Russia's Kaliningrad Exclave: Discontinuity as a Threat to Sovereignty Alexander C. Diener and Joshua Hagen Chapter 9: Defining Liechtenstein: Sovereign Borders, Offshore Banking, and National Identity Robert Ostergren Chapter 10: Misiones Province, Argentina: How Borders Shape Political Identity Eric D. Carter Chapter 11: Point Roberts, Washington: Boundary Problems of an American Exclave Julian V. Minghi Chapter 12: Conclusion: Borders in a Changing Global Context Alexander C. Diener and Joshua Hagen
