The essay delves into the multifaceted role of borders in international relations, citing the US-Mexico conflict and the EU’s Schengen Agreement as contrasting examples. It explores economic, social, and political implications, acknowledging both positive impacts, like cultural preservation, and negatives, such as tensions and discrimination. Proposed solutions include cultural exchange, cross-border cooperation, and technology use for communication. Additionally, the essay examines how globalization has further complicated the role of borders in international relations by facilitating the flow of goods, services, and people across national boundaries, making it increasingly challenging to regulate and control them. Ultimately, the essay emphasizes the importance of thoughtful policies to balance the drawbacks of borders with the potential for promoting peace and unity.
References
[1]
(2023). Schengen Area. Migration and Home Affairs. https://home-affairs.ec.europa.eu/policies/schengen-borders-and-visa/schengen-area_en#:~:text=Freedom%20and%20security%20for%20travellers,(up%20to%2090%20days)
[2]
Castles, S. (2008). Session 1: Theories of Global Mobility. Understanding Global Migration: A Social Transformation Perspective. In Conference on Theories of Migration and Social Change. St Anne's College, University of Oxford. https://www.migrationinstitute.org/files/events/castles.pdf
[3]
Correa-Cabrera, G., Garrett, T., & Keck, M. (2014). Administrative Surveillance and Fear: Implications for U.S.-Mexico Border Relations and Governance. European Review of Latin American and Caribbean Studies, No. 96, 35-53. https://www.jstor.org/stable/23722431
[4]
Nijkamp, P. (2021). Borders as Opportunities in the Space-Economy: Towards a Theory of Enabling Space. Asia-Pacific Journal of Regional Science, 5, 223-239. https://doi.org/10.1007/s41685-021-00191-x
[5]
Policy Department for Citizens’ Rights and Constitutional Affairs (2023). An Assessment of the State of the EU Schengen Area and its External Borders. https://www.europarl.europa.eu/RegData/etudes/STUD/2023/737109/IPOL_STU(2023)737109_EN.pdf
[6]
Starr, H., & Most, B. A. (1976). The Substance and Study of Borders in International Relations Research. International Studies Quarterly, 20, 581-620, https://doi.org/10.2307/2600341
[7]
Starr, H., & Thomas, G. D. (2005). The Nature of Borders and International Conflict: Revisiting Hypotheses on Territory. International Studies Quarterly, 49, 123-139. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.0020-8833.2005.00337.x
[8]
Weiner, M. (1985). On International Migration and International Relations. Population and Development Review, 11, 441-455. https://www.jstor.org/stable/1973247?origin=crossref&seq=5
