Abstract
The chapter offers a novel non-state centric approach to the study of borders, building upon Balibar’s ‘borders are everywhere’ thesis. One dimension of vernacularized borders studies is explored in detail: borderwork, societal bordering activity undertaken by citizens. This bordering activity is not necessarily linked to national securitization. Borderwork is explored at two UK sites, Melton Mowbray and Berwick-upon-Tweed, in order to demonstrate the ways in which borders are not always the project of the state, that they can exist for some (but not all) and can be ‘engines of connectivity’, linking people to the world beyond the ‘local’ border.
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Notes
The following comparison is instructive. Heathrow airport is used by 70 million passengers annually (The Independent, 14 January 2013). St Pancras International railway station is used by 45 million passengers (railway-technology.com). The port of Dover, the UK’s busiest port, was used by 13.3 million passengers (in 2005) (coastalkent.net).
If Scotland achieves independence in the near future it is likely that this debate will be reignited.
http://www.undiscoveredscotland.co.uk/berwick/berwickupontweed/index.html
‘Berwick wants to join Scotland,’ Campaign for an English Parliament, Oxfordshire, 17 February 2008, http://cepoxfordshire.blogspot.com/2008/02/berwick-wants-to-join-scotland.html
Ludlow in Shropshire was the first town in the UK to be admitted to Cittaslow (2003), Alysham in Norfolk was the second and Diss, also in Norfolk, was the third. Mold became the first Cittaslow in Wales (2006) and Perth the first in Scotland in 2007.
The Slow Food movement began in 1986. McDonald’s opened a branch at the site of the Spanish Steps in Rome. Some locals were angered by this and a writer, Carlo Petrini, started a campaign for an alternative to the ‘fast life’.
In 1999 several Italian towns pledged themselves to reducing traffic, increasing green spaces and pedestrian zones, promoting local produce, protecting the environment and enhancing quality of life. The Cittaslow movement now consists of 120 towns in 18 countries across the world.
‘Border town wins “slow” accolade” http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/tyne/7011699.stm
The WTFC was ‘founded in 1989 as an International Forum to promote the many mutual interests shared by walled towns throughout the world’. Current membership is 152. http://wtfc.obsidianinternet.net/
‘Berwick to make bid for walled town award’, The Berwick Advertiser, 13 September 2007, http://www.berwick-advertiser.co.uk/news/Berwick-to-make-bid-for.3197888.jp
Stilton Cheese was awarded Protected Designation of Origin status in 1996. There are several key differences between Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) status and Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) status. PDO status requires foods to be produced, processed and prepared exclusively within the specified geographic area, while PGI status requires foodstuff to be closely linked to a specific area with at least one of the preparation stages taking place within the designated boundary. Both geographical indicators require preparation and processing of the foodstuff to adhere to strict standards, rooted firmly in local tradition (European Commission, 2007).
Quoted in The Independent, 31 July 2004
Official Journal of the European Union 2008/C85/11, http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=OJ:C:2008:085:0017:0020:EN:PDF
Saxbys ceased pork pie production in 2007 after being sold to General Mills UK.
The pork pie region was eventually delineated as follows: ‘The town of Melton Mowbray and its surrounding region bounded as follows: — to the North, by the A52 from the M1 and the A1 and including the city of Nottingham, — to the East, by the A1 from the A52 to the A605 and including the towns of Grantham and Stamford, — to the West, by the M1 from the A52 to the A45, — to the South, by the A45 and A605 from the M1 to the A1 and including the town of Northampton.’ Official Journal of the European Union 2008/C85/11 http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=OJ:C:2008:085:0017:0020:EN:PDF
The Fairtrade Town movement aims at encouraging more ethical forms of international trade, ‘guaranteeing a better deal for farmers and workers and great products for consumers. Action in your area can and does have an impact on communities thousands of miles away’ (webpage blurb). Of the 815 Fairtrade Towns in 18 countries over half (479) are in the UK http://www.fairtradetowns.org/
http://www.porkpie.co.uk/news.asp
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© 2014 Chris Rumford
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Rumford, C. (2014). Citizen Vernacular: The Case of Borderwork. In: Cosmopolitan Borders. Mobility & Politics. Palgrave Pivot, London. https://doi.org/10.1057/9781137351401_2
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1057/9781137351401_2
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