Frank Jacobs '' In Praise Of Borders'

Borderlines is Frank Jacobs’ column in the New York Times. Through an extensive study of borders, the column examines the political geography of the world. Jacobs humorously brings an insightful perspective and manages to address a broad spectrum of concepts in political geography. Jacobs’ articles are written and published during a period of increasing disdain for borders, especially exemplified with the European Union’s move towards free movement and migration within its external boundary. The increase in anti-barrier sentiment is easily seen in some reactions to the articles in Borderlines. Alastair Bonnett quotes in a review of the column that” Jacobs received a stern scolding… Borders are for small minds which exploit fear and ignorance, …show more content…
The need to live among others that are like yourself is complemented by the desire to separate yourself from those alien to you, thus constructing barriers: abstract or concrete. Jacobs’ is completely correct, and his sentiments are echoed by Lord Curzon’s statement that border policy “has a more profound effect upon the peace or warfare of nations than any other factor, political or economic.” More specifically, Jacobs uses the examples of Transnistria and continued Indo-Pakistani tension to illustrate the utility of borders. The articles introduce the major themes of identity, language, religion, culture, and the legitimacy of …show more content…
This time the border is the Indo-Pakistani “geopolitical fault line,” called so because of the “deep hostility and mutual resentment between India and Pakistan.” The border was nicknamed the “Radcliffe line” for the man that was responsible for singlehandedly determining the borders of a state. While the existence of this border is not disputed, as is Transnistria’s, the position of the border is a topic of contention that has caused several wars. Titled “Peacocks at Sunset,” the article recounts a ceremony at a border crossing where both states make a show of force every night as their flags are lowered at the respective border station. If there is a more perfect representation of the function of borders, it is certainly hard to find. Again, the flag being lowered represents an entire place and its people, unifying each side of the border against the other as two distinct identities. Religion is the defining factor in this case, in lieu of the shared set of values in Transnistria’s conflict. As set forth in his introduction to the Borderlines series, this ceremony strongly reflects the “Them and Us” mentality that is pervasive in basic human