Routledge Handbook of African Borderlands

The Routledge Handbook of African Borderlands provides a comprehensive analysis of the factors shaping the past, present, and future of African borderlands, in all their complexity. Since precolonial times, African borderlands have served as sites of both prosperity and conflict. In the 21st century, many African countries have simultaneously seen an increase in trade and regional integration activities, while trying to control deteriorating security conditions in border areas. This book explores these tensions and considers how borderlands have impacted the economy, political stability, and social cohesion of African states. The book discusses the key conceptual debates related with the establishment of modern boundaries since precolonial times, as well as the methodological challenges associated with conducting research at the margins of the state. This important interdisciplinary and continent-wide investigation of African border dynamics will be an essential read for researchers across the fields of political science, geography, history, anthropology, international law, and development studies.