State Borders, Populism and Nationalism

Abstract

Borders are forms of demarcation between states, economies, societies, and identities. Despite increasing global flows, and the weakening of state borders within the European Union (e.g. the free circulation of people and goods), especially for some categories of people, such as extra-EU immigrants, state borders are still a reality. Meanwhile, old and new borders (both internal and external to states) still contribute to shape identities, belongings and forms of citizenship. Against this backdrop, borders are becoming a relevant issue for populist and nationalist actors. This panel will address the question of the interplay between state borders (and their transformations) and populist mobilisations in the European context. Beyond an essentialist perspective, that is to consider borders as a simple physical division of space, the panel assume “borders as practice and representation of territory continuously performed by take-for-granted everyday acts, as well strategic acts and discourse” (Diener & Hagen 2017). Contributions adopting different theoretical and methodological perspectives are welcome.

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