The Edge of the Plain

Crawford, James

£20.00

James Crawford argues that our enduring obsession with borders has brought us to a crisis point: that we are entering the endgame of a process that began thousands of years ago, when we first started dividing up the Earth. Today, nationalism, climate change, globalisation, technology and mass migration are all colliding with ever-hardening borders. Something has to give. At stake is the future of the world as we know it. Borders are the ultimate test – can we let go of the lines that separate us? Or are we fated to repeat the mistakes of the past, as our angry, warming and segregated planet lurches towards catastrophe? Combining history, travel and reportage, ‘The Edge of the Plain’ takes us through the history of borders – from the first ever marker which denoted the edge of one land and the beginning of the next, to the walls going up around the world today.

Out of stock

Publish Date: 04/08/2022
ISBN: 9781838852023 Category: Tags: ,

Description

Today, there are more borders in the world than ever before in human history.

In this book James Crawford argues that our enduring obsession with borders has brought us to a crisis point: that we are entering the endgame of a process that began thousands of years ago, when we first started dividing up the earth.

Beginning with the earliest known marker which denoted the end of one land and the beginning of the next, Crawford follows the story of borders into our fragile and uncertain future – towards the virtual frontiers of the internet, and the shifting geography of a world beset by climate change. In the process, he travels to many borders old and new: from a melting border high in the glacial landscapes of the Austrian-Italian Alps to the only place on land where Europe and Africa meet; from the artist Banksy’s ‘Walled Off Hotel’ in the conflict-torn West Bank to the Sonoran Desert and the fault lines of the US/Mexico border.

Combining history, travel and reportage, The Edge of the Plain explores how borders have grown and evolved to take control of our landscapes, our memories, our identities and our destinies. As nationalism, climate change, globalisation, technology and mass migration all collide with ever-hardening borders, something has to give. And Crawford asks, is it time to let go of the lines that divide us?

Additional information

Weight 667 g
Dimensions 240 × 162 × 38 mm
Author

Publisher

Imprint

Cover

Hardback

Pages

432

Language

English

Edition
Dewey

320.12 (edition:23)

Readership

General – Trade / Code: K