Gender, Race and Border Security Practices: A Profane Reading of ‘Muscular Liberalism’

Abstract

In recent years the concept of the border has been reconceptualised: borders are no longer viewed primarily as static lines at the outer edge of the state, but increasingly as mobile, bio-political and virtual apparatuses of control. While such a reconceptualisation resonates with western border security practices, however, it is vulnerable to the critique that such a totalising vision of sovereign space does not take into account the varied responses, resistances and contestations among populations targeted by those bordering practices. This article responds to such a critique by developing an interlocking account of the gendered and racialised logics that condition the possibility for contemporary border security practices. We illustrate our approach via an analysis of two visions of contemporary British society and border politics: one offered by Prime Minister David Cameron in his ‘Muscular liberalism’ speech delivered in February 2011; the other contained in Chris Morris’ jihadist comedy ‘Four Lions'.