GGR112H1 Lecture Notes - Lecture 6: Border Control, Structural Violence
23 Jan 2018
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Violence at borders is emblematic of a broader system that seeks to preserve privilege and opportunity for some by restricting access to resources and movement for others . Territorial sovereignty originally established who had the right to make decisions in a particular place (~1650s) 20th century = new system of passports / visas to establish identity and restrict movement. The poor were located and settled, and access to resources was controlled and limited not only to individuals but to states and corporations. Violence is between people who move and those who want them to stay = conflict between desire for freedom and desire for control. For most of 1900s = borders only guarded during war. This wall is not a response to a military threat, but focused entirely on preventing the movement of civilians. In the 90s border patrol was still lowkey underfunded so they just allowed crossings before detaining and deporting.
