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Built on Borders: Tensions with the Institution Liberalism (Thought It) Left Behind

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  09 February 2021

Beth A. Simmons Open the ORCID record for Beth A. Simmons [Opens in a new window]  and
Hein E. Goemans Open the ORCID record for Hein E. Goemans [Opens in a new window]
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Abstract

The Liberal International Order is in crisis. While the symptoms are clear to many, the deep roots of this crisis remain obscured. We propose that the Liberal International Order is in tension with the older Sovereign Territorial Order, which is founded on territoriality and borders to create group identities, the territorial state, and the modern international system. The Liberal International Order, in contrast, privileges universality at the expense of groups and group rights. A recognition of this fundamental tension makes it possible to see that some crises that were thought to be unconnected have a common cause: the neglect of the coordinating power of borders. We sketch out new research agendas to show how this tension manifests itself in a broad range of phenomena of interest.

Keywords

International relationsinternational organizationbordersterritorynation statenationalismidentitysocial geographyspatial identitiesspatial preferencesterritorial sovereigntyliberalismliberal theorydemocratic theoryliberal international orderborder securityborder hardeningpopulism
Type
Internal Challenges to the Liberal International Order: Political
Information
International Organization , Volume 75 , Special Issue 2: Challenges to the Liberal International Order: International Organization at 75 , Spring 2021 , pp. 387 - 410
Copyright
Copyright © The IO Foundation 2021

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