The definition of transnational that resonated most with me was the idea of a world without borders. A pressing question that is brought up at the thought of a borderless world is which borders we’re removing. Are we simply removing the physical borders that separate countries, removing the need for passports, border control, etc.? Are we eliminating borders of wealth and poverty thus spreading out resources evenly among countries? What about cultural borders, or moral borders? If the idea of a borderless world simply pertains to removing the physical borders between countries those who are not the most privileged still won’t be able to cross those borders freely. For example, in countries where the LGBT+ community faces extreme discrimination and violence simply removing physical borders won’t permit those individuals to safely visit or live in that country. Removing physical borders would only serve to benefit those who have privilege and access while still maintaining solid cultural borders excluding disenfranchised groups from similar access. In fact, groups with privilege and access for the most part already live in a borderless world. With a passport, plane ticket, and visit to customs these individuals can travel across virtually every geographical and cultural border in the world. Meanwhile, even more privileged non-cis or non-heterosexual people still cannot travel wherever they may like out of fear of facing more extreme violence or discrimination than they already may experience. Someone who identifies themselves as being part of the LGBT+ community may not be able to travel safely to Russia, for example, due to Russia’s notoriously discriminating policies against the LGBT+ community. This also applies even down to city borders or specific neighborhoods. While a heterosexual person can safely live in and visit predominately gay communities the opposite isn’t often true. Certain cities and even certain neighborhoods can be violent and highly discriminating against people who don’t fit their mold of “proper sexuality” (i.e. heterosexual, cis, monogamous, etc.) even if the state or country as a whole is more accepting. In order to create a borderless world that benefits everyone instead of those who are already privileged borders of discrimination and privilege would need to be removed as well.
