There are borders that are easily crossed and borders that are entirely impassable; there are visible borders—sometimes demarcated by fences, walls, flags, and posts—and invisible borders—not seen on a physical map and oftentimes restrictive of access to targeted populations; there are land borders, maritime, political, and cultural borders…
Presenting 70 case studies through maps and infographics, two experts in geopolitics reflect on the modern world through the lens of border lines, helping readers make sense of a complex world.
Atlas of Borders addresses conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East, the repercussions of Brexit, the Covid-19 pandemic, and the migration of peoples around the globe. Featuring up-to-date maps, the book also covers the aquatic borders of the Svalbard Islands, the borders of the eastern Mediterranean and the Blue Line dividing Lebanon and Israel.
In a confusing and at times chaotic world that seemingly defies interpretation, this atlas sheds light on larger issues behind the lines that separate or connect us.
Reviews
National borders are so ubiquitous that many take them for granted. This book will help readers realize how artificial, mutable, and ill-defined they really are… The book has tremendous breadth… It serves well as an introductory volume, packed with intriguing factoids presented in a bite-sized format.
— Booklist
[A] unique approach to exploring how humans have and continue to catalogue the world’s meeting points of nations, cultures, and geographic rights… Just as important, however, and even more illuminating, are the expository essays throughout. This volume discusses the history of borders, including linguistic and religious elements as well as politics. It also takes on geophysical realities and non-land issues… This guide can be of use and interest to advanced placement students in social studies and for debate preparation for teen events like Model UN.
— School Library Journal
[A] sobering atlas… [Provides] a unique view of current flash points and crises, from Covid and Brexit to Ukraine and Taiwan [and] offers fine-grained cartographic context to contemporary conflicts.
— Publishers Weekly
Captivating… Exquisitely rendered maps of troubled territories, buttressed by a philosophical framework.
— Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
[A] multiform portrait of community, disorder and change. This trio of French thinkers—which boasts extensive experience in geopolitical research, design and cartography— has assembled some 200 illustrations that seek to make sense of everything from the war in Ukraine and the ramifications of Brexit, to curious maritime borders and vast global migrations, with plenty of fun (and not-so-fun) facts scattered throughout.
— NPR
Contributors
Delphine Papin
Author
Delphine Papin works at the French Institute of Geopolitics. She is the head of the infography and Cartography department at Le Monde newspaper.
Bruno Tertrais
Author
Bruno Tertrais is deputy director of the Foundation for Strategic Research and the Associate Expert at the Institut Montaigne. He specializes in geopolitics and international relations, and he has written numerous books on these subjects.
Xemartin Laborde
Maps By
Xemartin Laborde is a cartographer and infographic designer at Le Monde.