From International Borders to the Honeycombing of Internal Borders: Response to COVID-19 Pandemic

Authors

David E. Toohey

Abstract

This article looks at borders during the Covid-19 crisis. In particular, it looks at how internal borders have arisen following xenophobic and national responses to Covid-19. This rise of internal borders is referred to as the honeycombing of borders. This article takes a genealogical approach to understand how borders have arisen—despite not always favorable opinions about them. Therefore, this looks at Rancière’s (1999; 2004) concept of the “police order” in the imposition of the sensible through Foucault’s genealogical approach, both to show the temporary, haphazard nature of these borders and how they revert to less desirable things. This is situated within the moment of rightwing populism, where increased prejudice leads to violence against everyone. This article uses examples from two rightwing populist countries, Brazil and the United States, Australia, which currently has a center-right government and xenophobic policies. Japan has had a hegemonic rightwing conservative government. The similarities and varieties of these countries show how internal borders vary in different spatial and political settings as well as change or persist over time. While these internal borders might suggest power concentrating at the local and subnational levels, this article argues that these borders enable increased national power.

Recommended Citation

Toohey, David E. (2020) "From International Borders to the Honeycombing of Internal Borders: Response to COVID-19 Pandemic," International Journal of Peace Studies: Vol. 25: No. 2, Article 4.
Available at: https://commons.lib.jmu.edu/ijps/vol25/iss2/4