The scientific connotation, formation mechanism and theoretical significance of border internalization: A case of China's border control policy

doi:10.3969/j.issn.1004-9479.2024.07.20222195

Abstract

Abstract:

National borders or external borders occupy the majority of studies in border academic research for a long time. The productivity and spatial governance significance of internal bordering are seldom studied. Compared with the control mode of expanding border externalization generally implemented in the west, China adopts the inward contracting border internalization mode. In terms of border internalization, the functional borders are set up according to the different participating actors within the nation, which facilitate the different control modes on the borders and effective governance on the border space. Border internalization is the theoretical extraction of China's series of border control policies. It developed from the "Willow Palisades" policy implemented in the Northeast in the early Qing Dynasty and matured in the border management area policy designated by China. Border internalization is characterized by both differentiation and contact. By dividing the interior and absorbing the exterior, border internalization not only avoids the western border violence and border ethical crisis, but also effectively establishes an inclusive and orderly border space. Border internalization is a great initiative of China's border governance,which has great application value in border control and far-reaching significance for the border study.

Key words: border internalization, border control, separation and contact, differential exclusion, Border Management Area, Willow Palisades

摘要：

长期以来，边界研究集中在国家边界或国家外部，很少关注国家内部的边界生产及空间治理意义。相对于西方普遍流行扩张型的边界外部化的管控模式，中国则是向内收缩的边界内部化模式。边界内部化是根据不同行动主体在国家内部划分不同的功能边界，实行差异化的边界管控方式，进而对边境空间进行有效治理。边界内部化是中国系列边境管控政策的理论萃取，它发展于清初在东北实施的“柳条边”政策，成熟于中华人民共和国在边境划定的边境管理区政策，在推动跨界流动和促进边境安全上具有重要意义。边界内部化以区隔与接触并举为主要特征，既划分内部，又吸收外部，不仅避免西方的边界暴力和边界伦理危机，还有效建立包容和秩序的边境空间，实现了主动的差异性包容。边界内部化是中国边境治理的伟大创举，不仅在边界管控中具有较大的应用价值，对推动中国化的边界理论研究也具有深远意义。

关键词: 边界内部化, 边界管控, 区隔与接触, 差异性包容, 边境管理区, 柳条边

Xuefeng HOU, Wei TAO. The scientific connotation, formation mechanism and theoretical significance of border internalization: A case of China's border control policy[J]. World Regional Studies, 2024, 33(7): 160-171.

后雪峰, 陶伟. 边界内部化的科学内涵、形成机制及理论意义[J]. 世界地理研究, 2024, 33(7): 160-171.

Figures/Tables 5

Fig.1 Schematic diagram of border externalization and border internalization

Fig.2 The schematic diagram of willow palisades and border management area

Fig.3 The location of Willow Palisades

Fig.4 The part of the Border Management Area

Fig.5 The formation mechanism of border internalization

References 52

1	钱俊希,安宁.全球文化转变的理论背景与方法论框架——兼论中国文化的跨国实践.地理研究, 2021, 40(11): 3103-3117.
	QIAN J, AN N. Theoretical contexts and a methodological framework for understanding global cultural shift: Implications for China′s transnational cultural practices. Geographical Research, 2021, 40(11): 3103-3117.
2	LAINE J P, MOYO I, NSHIMBI C C. Borders as sites of encounter and contestation//NSHIMBI C C, MOYO I, LAINE J P. Borders, Sociocultural Encounters and Contestations. New York: Routledge, 2020: 3-14.
3	VAN H H. Beyond 'borderism': Overcoming discriminative B/ordering and othering. Tijdschrift Voor Economische en Sociale Geografie, 2021, 112(1): 34-43.
4	VOLLMER B A. New narratives from the EU external border-humane refoulement. Geopolitics, 2016, 21(3): 717-741.
5	VOLLMER B A. The paradox of border security--An example from the UK. Political Geography, 2019(71): 1-9.
6	PAASI A. Bounded spaces in question: X-raying the persistence of regions, territories and borders. Geografiska Annaler: Series B, Human Geography, 2022, 104(1): 1-8.
7	WALTERS W. Migration, vehicles, and politics: Three theses on viapolitics. European Journal of Social Theory, 2015, 18(4): 469-488.
8	POPESCU G. Bordering and Ordering the Twenty-First Century: Understanding Borders. Washington: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, 2011.
9	CASAS-CORTES M, COBARRUBIAS S, PICKLES J. "Good neighbours make good fences": Seahorse operations, border externalization and extra-territoriality. European Urban and Regional Studies, 2016, 23(3): 231-251.
10	GUNAY C, WITJES N. Border Politics. Cham: Springer, 2017.
11	DIJSTELBLOEM H, VAN DER V L. The multiple movements of the humanitarian border: The portable provision of care and control at the Aegean Islands. Journal of Borderlands Studies, 2021, 36(3): 425-442.
12	VASILEV G. Open borders and the survival of national cultures//WEBER L. Rethinking Border Control for a Globalizing World. New York: Routledge, 2015:120-137.
13	JONES R, JOHNSON C. Placing the Border in Everyday Life. New York: Routledge, 2016.
14	JEANDESBOZ J. Beyond the Tartar steppe: EUROSUR and the ethics of European border control practices. A Threat against Europe, 2011: 111-132.
15	SIMMONS B A. Border rules. International Studies Review, 2019, 21(2): 256-283.
16	胡志丁,陆大道.基于批判地缘政治学视角解读经典地缘政治理论.地理学报, 2015, 70(6): 851-863.
	HU Z, LU D. The re-interpretation of the classical geopolitical theories from a critical geopolitical perspective. Acta Geographica Sinica, 2015, 70(6): 851-863.
17	宋涛,刘卫东,李玏.国外对地缘视野下边境地区的研究进展及其启示.地理科学进展, 2016, 35(3): 276-285.
	SONG T, LIU W, LI L. International research on the border regions with a geopolitical perspective and revelation. Progress in Geography, 2016, 35(3): 276-285.
18	李灿松,胡志丁,葛岳静,等.当前国外政治地理学边境安全研究进展.热带地理, 2014, 34(4): 454-462.
	LI C, HU Z, GE Y, et al. Progress of foreign political geography in border security studies. Tropical Geography, 2014, 34(4): 454-462.
19	后雪峰,陶伟.建构与批判:二战后西方边界研究进展及启示.地理科学进展, 2021, 40(7): 1246-1256.
	HOU X, TAO W. Construction and criticism: The progress and implication of western border research after World War II. Progress in Geography, 2021, 40(7): 1246-1256.
20	廖开怀, 何金廖, 蔡云楠,等.国外政治地理学边界理论研究进展与评述.世界地理研究, 2020, 29(2): 264-274.
	LIAO K, HE J, CAI Y, et al. A review of international political geography studies on border theories. World Regional Studies, 2020, 29(2): 264-274.
21	唐雪琼,杨茜好,钱俊希.社会建构主义视角下的边界:研究综述与启示.地理科学进展, 2014, 33(7): 969-978.
	TANG X, YANG X, QIAN J. Conceptualizing border from a social constructionist perspective: Current progress and implications for future research. Progress in Geography, 2014, 33(7): 969-978.
22	洪菊花,骆华松.地缘政治与地缘经济之争及中国地缘战略方向.经济地理, 2015, 35(12): 26-35.
	HONG J, LUO H. Controversy between geopolitics and geoeconomics and it's enlightenment on China's geostrategic direction. Economic Geography, 2015, 35(12): 26-35.
23	后雪峰,陶伟,任建造.中国西南边境新冠肺炎疫情防控的尺度分析——以瑞丽为例.人文地理, 2022, 37(3): 30-38.
	HOU X, TAO W, REN J. Scale analysis on COVID-19 epidemic prevention and control in the border of Southwest China--A case of Ruili. Human Geography, 2022, 37(3): 30-38.
24	Murphy Alexander B,刘云刚.东西对话:中国政治地理学研究展望.人文地理, 2019, 34(1): 3-8.
	MURPHY A B, LIU Y. Between East and West: Research directions in political geography. Human Geography, 2019, 34(1): 3-8.
25	管书合.柳条边始建年代考略.中国边疆史地研究, 2020, 30(3): 80-87.
	GUAN S. On the early building time of the Willow Palisades. China's Borderland History and Geography Studies, 2020, 30(3): 80-87.
26	中华人民共和国边境管理区通行证管理办法.中华人民共和国国务院公报, 2000(1): 26-28.
	Measures for the Administration of Passes in Border Management Areas of the People's Republic of China. Gazette of the State Council of the People's Republic of China, 2000(1): 26-28.
27	PAASI A. Examining the persistence of bounded spaces: Remarks on regions, territories, and the practices of bordering. Geografiska Annaler: Series B, Human Geography, 2022, 104(1): 9-26.
28	PAASI A. Bounded spaces in a "borderless world": Border studies, power and the anatomy of territory. Journal of Power, 2009, 2(2): 213-234.
29	SHACHAR A. Beyond open and closed borders: The grand transformation of citizenship. Jurisprudence, 2020, 11(1): 1-27.
30	VOLLMER B.A. Categories, practices and the self: reflections on bordering, ordering and othering. Tijdschrift voor Economische en Social Geografie, 2021, 112(1): 4-10.
31	WIECKOWSKI M, TIMOTHY D J. Tourism and an evolving international boundary: Bordering, debordering and rebordering on Usedom Island, Poland-Germany. Journal of Destination Marketing & Management, 2021(22): 100647.
32	SLACK J, MARTINEZ D E, LEE A E, WHITEFORD S. The geography of border militarization: Violence, death and health in Mexico and the United States. Journal of Latin American Geography, 2016, 15(1): 7-32.
33	CASAS-CORTES M, COBARRUBIAS S, PICKLES J. Riding routes and itinerant borders: Autonomy of migration and border externalization. Antipode, 2015, 47(4): 894-914.
34	COTE-BOUCHER K, INFANTINO F, SALTER M B. Border security as practice: An agenda for research. Security Dialogue, 2014, 45(3): 195-208.
35	VAUGHAN-WILLIAMS N. "We are not animals!" Humanitarian border security and zoopolitical spaces in Europe. Political Geography, 2015(45): 1-10.
36	JONES R. Why build a border wall. NACLA Report on the Americas, 2012, 45(3): 70-72.
37	COBARRUBIAS S. Scale in motion? Rethinking scalar production and border externalization. Political Geography, 2020(80): 102-184.
38	RAGHURAM P. Interjecting the geographies of skills into international skilled migration research: Political economy and ethics for a renewed research agenda. Population, Space and Place, 2021, 27(5): e2463.
39	KONRAD V. New directions at the Post-Globalization border. Journal of Borderlands Studies, 2021, 36(5): 713-726.
40	PALLITRO R, HEYMAN J. Theorizing cross-border mobility: Surveillance, security and identity. Surveillance & Society, 2008, 5(3): 45-56.
41	SHELLER M, URRY J. The new mobilities paradigm. Environment and Planning A: Economy and Space, 2006, 38(2): 207-226.
42	HOU X, HUANG S, TAO W, et al. Inward border: The multiscalar production of borders Amid the COVID-19 epidemic prevention and control on China's southwest border. Journal of Borderlands Studies, 2022(32): 1-15.
43	SHIELDS R. Spatial Questions: Cultural Topologies and Social Spatializations. London: Sage, 2013.
44	管书合.何谓"以界蒙古"——清初设置柳条边与蒙古之关系再探讨.吉林大学社会科学学报, 2021, 61(2): 190-198.
	GUAN S. Re-exploring the relationship between the Willow Palisades and Mongolia in the early Qing dynasty: What is "delimit the boundary with Mongolia"? Jilin University Journal Social Sciences Edition, 2021, 61(2): 190-198.
45	苗伟明.边境管理学.北京:中国方正出版社, 2010.
	MIAO W. Border Management. Beijing: China Founder Press, 2010.
46	HU Z, VICTOR K. Repositioning security spaces of exclusion, exception, and integration in China-Southeast Asia borderlands. Regions & Cohesion, 2021, 11(2): 1-25.
47	MEZZADRA S, NEILSON B. Border as Method, or, the Multiplication of Labor. Durham: Duke University Press, 2013.
48	FABINI G. Managing illegality at the internal border: Governing through 'differential inclusion' in Italy. European Journal of Criminology, 2017, 14(1): 46-62.
49	BRAMBILLA C. Exploring the critical potential of the borderscapes concept. Geopolitics, 2015, 20(1): 14-34.
50	KONRAD V. Toward a theory of borders in motion. Journal of Borderlands Studies, 2015, 30(1): 1-17.
51	后雪峰,陶伟.西方尺度研究进展:概念化框架、实践路径及启示.热带地理, 2021, 41(5): 881-891.
	HOU X, TAO W. Progress of western scale research: Conceptualization framework, practice approach and enlightenment. Tropical Geography, 2021, 41(5): 881-891.
52	ALLEN J, AXELSSON L. Border topologies: The time-spaces of labour migrant regulation. Political Geography, 2019(72): 116-123.