public-professor-Dr-Sheila-McManus
Image
Join us for a fresh season of the PUBlic Professor Series! View 2023/24 Schedule
Dr. Sheila McManus | November 23, 2023
Borders are Stupid
Most people today, if they think about borders at all, can be forgiven for believing that lines on a map are real things that serve useful purposes. By demarcating the edges of nation-states they are responsible for everything from shoring up sovereignty, nationalism, and colonialism, to drawing the lines between “us” and “them.” However, if you take a closer look at the long messy histories and even messier contemporary functions of those invisible lines you discover that what they are best at is lying to you. This talk will explore why we believe the lies borders tell us, and why we shouldn’t.