A term created by Harsha Walia to scrutinize the “regime of practices, institutions, discourses and systems” (Walia, 38) that borders embody. In other words, by analysing the effects of political borders one can observe the reality of governmental violence, capitalistic incentives and colonialist history borders employ. Harsha Walia’s encourages us to consider the impact of borders on people within and outside them. She analyzes the intersection of factors that create migration and displacement. For example, on a global scale economic imperialism and militarization create an environment that requires people to flee (CAPI, 2015). In this way, studying borders holds the nation-state accountable for its codification of people.
This reflection of the causes and effects of migration is valuable because it confronts the legitimacy of borders. Analysis of the way borders perpetuate settler colonialism, a racialized empire, exploitation and mass incarceration is necessary to start healing their effects. Though understanding the origins of border imperialism is uncomfortable and distressing, the work of decolonization is hopeful and collective. Answering border imperialism extends beyond migration advocacy, or Western feminism. It requires a coalition between indigenous rights, environmental protection and a consideration of the intersectional factors such as class and gender to champion a future that is truly free. All resources used for this definition are the primary sources from Harsha Walia.
Academic Sources: CAPI. (2015 February 3). Harsha Walia Interview - Defining Border Imperialism. Vimeo. Retrieved from https://vimeo.com/118655614
Walia, H. (2013). Undoing Border Imperialism. Oakland: AK Press. Keywords: imperialism, transnational, migration
Author: marielh
I absolutely love Walia’s work and I am so pleased you decided to reflect on this chapter. It is simple for people to push aside any problems that they do not feel they can connect with and state ‘it does not have a direct impact on me…so why should I care?’ Walia’s work has helped me to see just how important Undoing Border Imperialism is. I appreciate Walia’s work as she explains that it is important for us all to work towards decolonization. We are all humans and we all live on the same planet so why would we not want to work together to create unity and safety for all?