Walls of Division: The Role of Racial Diversity on States' Border Policies

• In Event: Public Policy and Political Institutions

Abstract

This paper investigates the impact of cultural insecurity on states' border policies, particularly how ethnic and racial diversity in migratory flows influences the construction of border walls. Existing scholarship identifies various motivations for wall construction, such as economic instability and cross-border conflicts, but our focus is on cultural insecurity, especially highlighted in populist leaders' calls for walls against culturally distinct migrants. Building on Rosenberg’s (2022) method for assessing racial inequality in migration, we explore the effect of racial difference on a state’s border security and the likelihood it constructs a border wall. We hypothesize that cultural insecurity, driven by racially different migration, increases the probability of erecting a wall, with this trend being more pronounced in ethnically homogenous states. This hypothesis stems from social identity theory, suggesting that walls serve as a defense mechanism to exclude outgroup members and alleviate ingroup anxiety. Additionally, we examine the role of populist rhetoric in amplifying the impact of racial diversity on wall construction, especially in the context of backlash against multiculturalism and globalization. By utilizing Simmons and Kenwick’s (2022) border orientation data and Avdan and Gelpi’s (2017) border walls data, this study not only contributes to the empirical research onborder walls but also illuminates hidden racial biases in migration and border policies, highlighting the intricate link between cultural identity and state security measures.

Authors

• Nazli Avdan, University of Kansas

• Andrew S Rosenberg, University of Florida