Bordering Intimacy: Postcolonial Governance and the Policing of Family

Bordering intimacy explores how borders and dominant forms of family intimacy govern postcolonial states, revealing how border policies have been reinvented to justify and obfuscate racialized violence. It examines the continuity of colonial rule in various areas of contemporary government, such as family visa regimes, policing of 'sham marriages, counterterror strategies, deprivation of citizenship, policing tactics, and integration policy.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 312 pages
Publication date: 21 April 2022
Publisher: Manchester University Press

Bordering Intimacy delves into the intricate interplay between borders and dominant family intimacy patterns in the governance of postcolonial states. By employing a historical inquiry and integrating postcolonial, decolonial, and black feminist theories, the book unveils how the border policies of the British and other European empires have been reimagined for the twenty-first century. These policies are crafted with the ostensible goal of safeguarding and sustaining "family life," which serves as a justification for perpetuating racialized violence. The book meticulously examines the persistence of colonial rule in various domains of contemporary governance, encompassing family visa regimes, the enforcement of "sham marriages," counterterrorism strategies, citizenship deprivation, policing tactics, and integration policies.

Through a comprehensive analysis, Bordering Intimacy sheds light on the ways in which borders are used to regulate and control family relationships, perpetuating power imbalances and reinforcing discriminatory practices. It highlights the ways in which colonial legacies continue to shape contemporary governance, perpetuating systems of oppression and marginalization. The book offers a critical perspective on the role of borders in shaping family intimacy and provides insights into the ongoing struggles for justice and equality in postcolonial societies.

Dimension: 216 x 138 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781526163745