“Geographer Reece Jones discusses his recent book Border Walls, examining the history of how and why societies have chosen to literally wall themselves apart.  He gives a brief history of political maps, how international lines reshape landscapes, and how the trend towards increased border wall construction contrasts with the view of a “borderless” world under globalization.”

Seth Dixon, Ph.D.‘s insight:

This 30-minute audio podcast is a great preview of Reece Jones’ book Border Walls; and discusses many concepts important to political geography.  The physical construction of barriers is an old practice (Great Wall of China, Hadrian’s Wall), but those borders were the exceptions.  The recent proliferatrion of walls to separate countries is dramatically reshaping our borders and impacting economics, politics, migration and other geographic patterns (How recent? Over half of the borders with walls and fences we see today have been constructed since 2000). Although walls are often justified as a means to prevent terrorism, but most of the world’s walls can best be explained as dividing wealthy and relatively poorer countries (download podcast episode here).  You can also read his New York Times article on the same topic.   

Tags: book reviews, podcast, borders, political, landscape, states, territoriality, sovereignty.

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