The DHS Border Fence in the Rio Grande Valley

Semiotics, Space, and Subjectivity

Bibliographic Data

ID12450757
AuthorsTerence M Garrett (0000-0002-6889-7139, John Brown University, corresponding author), Terence Garrett (a The University of Texas at Brownsville), James E Storbeck (Brownsville Public Library), James Storbeck (a The University of Texas at Brownsville)
Year2011
Volume33
Issue4
Pages530-548
Publication date2011-12-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueAdministrative Theory & Praxis (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1084-1806 • E-ISSN: 1949-0461
PublisherTaylor & Francis (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.2753/atp1084-1806330402
OpenAlexW2333344277
LanguageEN
Citations received7
References cited16

The authors call on related theoretical concepts to better understand the effects on the Rio Grande Valley of the U.S. government's recent border security activities. In particular, we explore the consequences of U.S. wall-building policies in terms of semiotics (Baudrillard's simulacra), space (Foucault's heterotopias), and subjectivity (Agamben's homo sacer). These three interrelated perspectives are developed as analytical tools to study impacts of national security initiatives on the life world of south Texas. Although the Department of Homeland Security has worked steadfastly on building the wall in the name of improved national security, considerable local public resistance continues. Property owners, mayors, business leaders, clergy, and others remain fearful of what the wall represents to their collective economic, social and political well-being. The authors argue that examining the phenomenon of the wall through theoretical lenses leads to the development of relevant (alternative) theories and practices that explicitly address community concerns

Epistemology · Fence (mathematics · Government (linguistics · Homeland security · National security · Phenomenon · Political economy · Political science · Politics · Resistance (ecology · Sociology · Subjectivity · Terrorism · Engineering · Geographies of human-animal interactions · Law · Public Administration · Public Spaces through Art · Spatial and Cultural Studies

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