Borderlands

This course explores the creation and maintenance of international borders and the communities that develop in response to them. We will examine a particular collection of borders and borderlands that includes a range of structural, managerial, and geographical variation. Through a combination of scholarly texts, ethnographic accounts, films, and research on GOs and NGOs, we will study legal and illegal crossings, border communities, and border patrol organizations that seek to protect the integrity of national boundaries. (Note: While the case study texts focus on the Mediterranean/Middle East, students will be required to investigate and share research on other areas of the world.) By the end of this course, you will have a comprehensive understanding of how international borders are created, how they are maintained, and how people and organizations navigate them. While the majority of this course will be conducted on campus, it includes one-week, embedded travel to Istanbul during spring break (March 23 - March 31, 2024).