Walled States, Waning Sovereignty

This set of flashcards focuses on key terms and concepts from Wendy Brown's work on the themes of sovereignty, globalization, and contemporary practices of border control represented by walls.

Sovereignty

The authority of a state to govern itself or another state.

Globalization

The process by which businesses or other organizations develop international influence or start operating on an international scale.

Post-Westphalian World

A global order characterized by the diminishing dominance of nation-states and an increase in transnational flows.

Fortification

The act of strengthening a place to protect it against attack.

Border Security

Measures taken by a state to monitor and regulate its border with the aim of preventing illegal immigration, smuggling, and other threats.

Nationalism

A political ideology that emphasizes the interests of a particular nation, especially with the aim of gaining and maintaining the nation's sovereignty over its homeland.

Transnational Actors

Individuals or organizations that operate across national borders and influence international relations.

Walls/Barriers

Physical structures built to prevent movement across a territory, often used in the context of borders to control immigration and enforce national sovereignty.

Neoliberalism

An economic and political model that emphasizes free market competition, deregulation, and reduction of state influence in the economy.

Legal Status of Borders

The recognition and legitimacy of borders established by treaties, international law, or sovereignty.

Theatricality of Walls

The notion that walls serve as symbols or performances of power, rather than effectively addressing the issues they are meant to resolve.

Suspended Political Solutions

Temporary measures enacted under a state of emergency that lack accountability or long-term legal frameworks.

Settler Colonialism

A form of colonialism that involves the replacement of indigenous populations with a settler society.

REMOVAL of Barriers

The potential for barriers to be retracted or reassessed based on changing political or security conditions.

Asylum Seekers

Individuals who apply for refuge in another country due to persecution, danger, or conflict in their home country.

Security Fence

A term often used to describe walls built with the rationale of protecting a country's borders and populations.

Surveillance Technologies

Tools and systems used to monitor activities and movements, often employed in border security measures.

Impermeable Borders

Borders that are designed to be non-passthrough, preventing any unauthorized entry.

Political Economies of Walling

The relationship between economic incentives and the political motivations for constructing barriers and walls.

Civilizational Struggle

A narrative frame used to describe conflicts framed in terms of cultural or civilizational ideologies.

Immigration Control

Policies and practices aimed at managing and restricting immigration into a country.