A case for border abolition in the age of postcolonial capitalism. Borders as instruments of global inequality

Abstract

This work focuses on the concept of borders from a human rights perspective and examines why borders should be abolished. Modern borders of the European Union do not start at the actual external borders of the EU but are externalised, systematically excluding, oppressing, and killing people. Therefore, borders should not only be seen as the entry or exit point of a country, but they are omnipresent in everyday life and deeply anchored in our societies. In addition, another focus of this work is the arbitrary demarcation of borders by European colonial powers, especially in the global south, which still causes regional conflicts and wars today. The central research question is: How do borders function as instruments of global inequality within postcolonial capitalism, and in what ways can their abolition contribute to a more just and dignified global order? The work is focussed on critical migration studies, postcolonial theories, and case studies. These works show that borders are shaped by institutional racist violence, produce global injustice, and are deeply rooted in historical discrimination. This work argues that border abolition is not a utopian vision, but a necessary step towards a realisation of global human rights. The abolitionist approach rethinks community, security, and solidarity beyond state-based divisions.