Speaking to The Wall: Reconceptualizing the US–Mexico Border “Wall” from the Perspective of a Realist and Constructivist Theoretical Framework in International Relations

In his 2016 presidential campaign, President Donald Trump has promised to build a “big, beautiful wall” along the US–Mexico border. The desire to build and fortify border structures around the world has accelerated since the Cold War. After a brief discussion of the historical tradition of border walls, I illustrate how these structures are neither functional nor feasible; rather, as others have pointed out, they are performative. The paper identifies two competing perspectives on borders in international relations. Realists believe that in the face of threats to its sovereignty, a state must ensure its own survival by doubling down on borders. This kind of response however results in a cycle of border militarization which is highly evident in places like Nogales, Arizona. A social constructivist perspective in international relations can provide a way of thinking outside of the dominant realist paradigm as constructivism relies on a discussion about the ideas that underlie our understanding of border security. Borderlands are fluid and highly contested spaces through which changing perceptions on border security can be readily observed. Countering the border-as-weapon narrative established by Trump will not be an easy task; however, ongoing efforts to change norms reveal great potential for reconceptualizing borders.