Introduction: The Border Is Not at the Border

A visible or invisible dividing line, the border is usually perceived in terms of separation and rupture, but it is also a principle of organization of international relations. It is therefore a site of tension with regard to identity construction and assertion; the border is often at the very origin of contestations, negotiations, and other conflicting patterns of inclusion/exclusion of subjectivities. Exclusion and separation usually result from historical narratives whose complex contents deserve as much attention as their outcomes. While the political dimension is evident, it is often accompanied with multiple approaches that should also be explored.