Summary
Summary
The globe has always been a world of walls, from the Great Wall of China to Hadrian's Wall to the Berlin Wall. But a new age of isolationism and economic nationalism is upon us, visible not just in Trump's obsession with building a wall on the Mexico border or in Britain's Brexit vote but in many other places as well. China has the great Firewall, holding back Western culture. Europe's countries are walling themselves against immigrants, terrorism, and currency issues. South Africa has heavily gated communities, and massive walls or fences separate people in the Middle East, Korea, Sudan, India, and other places around the world.In fact, at least sixty-five countries, more than a third of the world's nation-states, have barriers along their borders. There are many reasons why walls go up, because we are divided in many ways: wealth, race, religion, and politics, to name a few. Understanding what is behind these divisions is essential to understanding much of what's going on in the world today.The Age of Walls examines how walls (which Marshall calls "monuments to the failure of politics"), borders, and barriers have been shaping our political landscape for hundreds of years, and especially since 2001, and how they figure in the diplomatic relations and geo-political events of today.
Reviews (2)
Booklist Review
*Starred Review* Marshall (Prisoners of Geography, 2016) returns with an incisive, meticulous survey of humanity's physical barriers, the factors that lead to their construction, and the hope for building bridges across them. Around the world, nationalism is on the rise and with it the erection or bolstering of walls, evidence of misunderstanding, intolerance, even hatred. Each of the eight chapters spotlights a different geographical region. In China, the Great Wall represents an iconic ancient culture, but today's digital wall divides the country's citizens from the rest of the world. In the U.S., Marshall explores walls actual and metaphorical, how their presence is intended not only to physically prevent people from entering but also to protect ideologies. The formidable conflict between Israel and Palestine reminds us that although barriers seek to simplify the divide between us and them, reality is much more complex. Drawing on his 25 years of experience reporting global foreign affairs, Marshall presents concise overviews that allow readers to quickly grasp geographical ruptures and draw universal comparisons. Marshall reminds us that we fear the unknown; crave safety, health, and opportunity; and that where there is inequality, there are walls. This enlightening, shrewd assessment of the walls that separate us proves that there is actually far more that unites us.--Katharine Uhrich Copyright 2018 Booklist
Library Journal Review
Marshall (Prisoners of Geography) brings forward an intriguing look at border walls and their impact on the land and people around them. Besides examining walls among countries, the author uses the term as "shorthand for barriers, fences, and divisions in all their variety." Included are structures in China, Israel, Palestine, India, the United States, the UK, among other areas. Marshall looks at the history of the area that led to the creation of the wall, its effects today, and where the future might lead. In these examinations, he reveals a depth of knowledge of the region involved, along with its residents and the issues they face. In conclusion, Marshall shares his vision for the future if issues relating to immigration and walls are not addressed effectively. VERDICT A provocative and well-written look at current issues in the political landscape. For general readers interested in geopolitics as well as undergraduate programs in border studies and world politics. [See Prepub Alert, 4/30/18.]-John Sandstrom, New Mexico State Univ. Lib., Las Cruces © Copyright 2018. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.