COVID-19 and New internal bordering: The case of Slovakia
COVID-19 and New internal bordering: The case of Slovakia
Author(s): Branislav MičkoSubject(s): Media studies, Political behavior, Politics and society, Theory of Communication, Social Theory, Health and medicine and law, Inter-Ethnic Relations, Sociology of Politics, Identity of Collectives
Published by: SAGE Publications Ltd
Keywords: COVID-19; internal borders; bordering; identification; health;
Summary/Abstract: This paper analyses how a state produces new internal borders. It selected 1668 newspaper articles on the COVID-19 internal bordering case in Slovakia to answer this question. These articles were then analysed using the thematic trajectory analysis (TTA) through the conceptual prism of structurationism. The results suggest states apply methods during the production of internal borders similar to those used during the (re-)production of an international border. In particular, it shows the application of a military-testing nexus and economic tools to ensure compliance with the new border. Results also revealed that such a border is heavily dependent on popular support for the government and open to re-negotiations by relevant societal groups. From the border production perspective, this study offers a preliminary step into the area of internal borders imposed on a generally homogenous population, especially regarding the borders produced under COVID-19 conditions.
- Issue Year: 31/2023
- Issue No: 2
- Page Range: 149-173
- Page Count: 25
- Language: English
- Content File-PDF