Bordering, ordering and othering

In 1988, geographer David Sibley argued in his thought-provoking article on the purification of space that ‘there has been a failure to recognise boundary maintenance and the rejection of difference as something which is central to geography’ (1988, p. 410). Now, more than a decade later, it is almost a truism to say that the symbolisation and (discursive) institutionalisation of differences in space have gained central attention in present socalled critical geography debates. Forwarded mainly by post-structural and post-colonial theorisations, the post-modern concern with difference has almost become, as Jacobs (2000) argues, a shibboleth in human geography. Representing good political correctness for some and a form of unwanted celebration of subjectivity and hyper relativity for others, the usage and exploitation of the term ‘difference’ has become a differential principle itself among those who claim or believe themselves to be critical geographers and those who claim or believe themselves to be mainstream. Despite such agonistic tendencies, we believe the interesting and stimulating debate on difference has put the spotlight on relevant issues. The exclusionary consequences of the securing and governing of the ‘own’ economic welfare and identity has gained a more central and just place in the geographical debate. It is this topic that we define as bordering, which we relate to practices of othering, that is a central theme in this special issue. In particular, the practices of ordering and the discursive differentiation between us and them, seen through the lens of spatial bordering, are topics of interest here. Which are our contemporary bordering and ordering spatial routines and practices that seem to prevail daily praxis? Special attention is drawn to the awareness and perception of migrant others in our bordering discourses and practices. The challenging and sometimes horrifying reality of present territorial processes demands our constant critical awareness and attendance of processes of (b)ordering and othering, which have gained only more relevance in the light of current geo-political developments following the 11 September 2001 attack in the USA. The purpose of this special issue of TESG is to contribute to the geographical debate on (b)ordering and othering processes, focusing in particular on the issue of (im)mobility. A selection is offered of promising theoretical insights from various geographical contributors to the debate, drawing from spatially diverse actual cases. This introductory paper to the theme explores the concepts thought to be most significant in the debate on (b)ordering and othering, some elements of which are examined in more detail by the contributors to the issue. This paper begins by discussing the issue of bordering through immobilising people. This is followed by a debate on the making of places for economic or political strangers, the transnational places.