De la dimension spatiale du contrôle social

Abstract

The purpose of this article is to analyze the spatial dimension of social control based on the processes involved in making the Mexican – American border region more secure and bringing it under control. On the one hand, what is presented is a discussion of the connections between the changes in social relations (built on a requirement for security and control) and the role of borders in these processes. On the other hand, it will be demonstrated that what is happening along United States borders describes (and gives us information about) a social and political context where control has become omnipresent within contemporary societies and characteristic of asymmetric relations. In order to give an account of the processes and forms of control, the different political procedures and programs (Homeland Security) as well as technologies (Virtual Fence and biometrics) that embody the requirement for control of and by the space of the populations are analyzed. In the name of the war on terrorism, is has become, at the same time and by association, a fight against immigration. The border between Mexico and the United States is an example that permits one to see the extent (and excesses) of the consequences of these policies.

Keywords

• USA/Mexico
• border
• immigration
• security
• control
• asymmetry