British Columbia?s Borders in Globalization

This book is a case-study collection examining the influences and functions of British Columbia’s (BC) borders in the 21st century.

British Columbia’s Borders in Globalization examines bordering processes and the causes and effects of borders in the Cascadian region, from the perspective of BC. The chapters cover diverse topics including historical border disputes and cannabis culture and identity; the governance of transboundary water flows, migration, and preclearance policies for goods and people; and the emerging issue of online communities. The case studies provide examples that highlight the simultaneous but contradictory trends regarding borders in BC: while boundaries and bordering processes at the external borders shift away from the territorial boundary lines, self-determination, local politics, and cultural identities re-inscribe internal boundaries and borders that are both virtual and real. Moreover, economic protectionism, racial discourses, and xenophobic narratives, driven by advances in technology, reinforce the territorial dimensions of borders. These case studies contribute to the literature challenging the notion that territorial borders are sufficient for understanding how borders function in BC; and in a few instances they illustrate the nuanced ways in which borders (or bordering processes) are becoming detached from territory.

The chapters in this book were originally published as a special issue of the Journal of Borderlands Studies.

Nicole Bates-Eamer is PhD Candidate in Political Science at the University of Victoria. Her research examines narratives and policies related to the intersections of climate change and human mobility; she has previously worked on issues of international development, climate change, and global governance. From 2013 to 2021, Nicole managed and conducted research for the international research program, Borders in Globalization.

Helga Kristín Hallgrímsdóttir is Professor in the School of Public Administration at the University of Victoria and Dean of the Faculty of Human and Social Development. Her research interests span questions of political participation, citizen engagement, and social inclusion. Her research has been funded by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada and the Jean Monnet Erasmus+ Program, and has been published in Frontiers in Sociology, The Journal of Sex Research, Politique Européenne, Human Ecology, and Acta Sociologica, among other publications.