Depraved of legitimating discourse: CEE walled states and emerging political subjectivities

Abstract

In this paper I want to compare rare theoretical justifications of border walls with discourses on boundaries and walls by Central and Eastern European political actors in dealing with refugee crisis in 2015. I analize three such discourses: consequentialist, discourse of reponsibility for fair distribution of cosmopolitan duties, and nationalistic discourse. This comparison allows me to question aplicability of Wendy Brown’s argument that the states with waning sovereignty display symbols of force in building border walls aimed at defending fragile egos built around national and religious identities. Finally, I want to elucidate what type of political subjectivity is produced and legitimated by these acts of fortification within and around CEE “walled” states.

Keywords

• border walls
• walled states
• Wendy Brown
• Central and Eastern Europe
• European Union
• legitimating discourses