Rethinking Authority in China's Border Regime: Regulating the Irregular

The book "Rethinking Authority in China's Border Regime: Regulating the Irregular" explores the Chinese government's response to new migratory mobilities by examining the regulatory framework of border mobility. It argues that the Chinese state creates 'zones of exception' along its borders, where local governments function as scalar managers to facilitate cross-border mobility and create local migration systems. The analysis is based on two case studies at the Sino-Myanmar and Sino-North Korean borders and contributes to debates on territoriality, sovereignty, and border management.

Format: Hardback
Length: 318 pages
Publication date: 12 January 2022
Publisher: Amsterdam University Press

Governments worldwide are grappling with the challenge of addressing emerging migratory movements in the 21st century. As irregular immigration becomes more prevalent, governments are compelled to reevaluate the delicate balance between open borders and security. Rethinking Authority in China's Border Regime: Regulating the Irregular delves into the Chinese government's response to this phenomenon, offering a comprehensive analysis of the country's border regime. Through an ethnographic border regime analysis, the book explores the regulatory framework of border mobility in China, examining laws, institutions, and discourses as integral components. It argues that the Chinese state intentionally establishes "zones of exception" along its borders, where local governments assume the role of "scalar managers." These managers establish cross-border relations to facilitate cross-border mobility and establish local migration systems that align with their own notion of legality, issuing locally valid border documents.

The book presents an empirically rich narrative that sheds light on the practical implementation of border politics. By conducting two case studies at the Sino-Myanmar and Sino-North Korean borders, the analysis illustrates how local practices are intricately intertwined with multiscalar mobility regulation, encompassing regional organizations such as the Greater Mekong Subregion and the Greater Tumen Initiative.

This study contributes to ongoing debates on territoriality, sovereignty, and the exercise of authority through border management. It sheds light on the complex dynamics and strategies employed by governments to regulate border mobility, while also acknowledging the role of local actors and their contributions to shaping border regimes. Rethinking Authority in China's Border Regime: Regulating the Irregular is a valuable resource for scholars, policymakers, and practitioners interested in understanding the complexities of border governance in the contemporary world.

Dimension: 234 x 156 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9789463726351