The Border as a Humanized Space: (Un)making Territoriality and Spatiality of State Boundary

Nasir Uddin

Journal of Borderlands Studies, 2025, vol. 40, issue 3, 505-521

Abstract: The classical notion of the border essentially denotes a state boundary as a spatial and territorial entity that connects and separates two states in terms of a physical lineup. However, many scholars believe in its fixity while others point out its mobility. Some think of the border as a vibrant space while others look at it as zones of limited statehood. Some advocate the idea of the border to overcome the social and political division while others sense the border in terms of territoriality to retain the division. Some researchers look upon it as a form of practice terming it “borderscape” while others say the border is a method to understand intersectionality. Some focus on the border as a force for controlling people and goods across borders. Given the background, the paper intends to redefine and retheorize the border proposing an alternative lens to see its humanitarian role in rescuing and saving lives in atrocious and deadly conditions with the case of the Rohingya experience in the Bangladesh-Myanmar border. This paper argues that the border is not only a territorial and spatial entity with strict authority, power and force but also a humanized space for people in atrocious conditions.

Date: 2025
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DOI: 10.1080/08865655.2023.2296058

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