PSCI550 - Borders&Boundaries in Ir

This research seminar explores the meanings, rules and consequences of borders and boundaries in international relations. How was a political world based on territorial sovereignty created, how are international borders determined, and how are they adjudicated and maintained? How do international borders influence war and peace between states? How do borders, border regions, and border activities speak to national encounters with neighbors and the rest of the world? How do they affect international trade and development? When and how are international borders "securitized," and how does this affect the flow of goods, people, and illicit activities around and across the border? How do states 'cooperate' across international borders? We will examine the meaning and function of boundary-making between states from multiple disciplines and perspectives: political science, international law, international relations, history, geography, sociology, and economics. Borders, border regions and border crossings have multiple significance as designations of state authority, security buffers, expressions of social meaning and opportunities for economic integration. We explore their creation, challenges, and reinforcement over time and around the world. As a seminar designed primarily to stimulate research, this course will be concerned with historical and current problems relating to international borders around the world. We will concentrate on formulating interesting research questions, think carefully about how to bring data to bear on specific questions or hypotheses, become familiar with data sources, and design our own research. All assignments are related to developing research skills; there are no in-class exams.