Border Games

The Politics of Policing the U.S.-Mexico Divide

By: Peter Andreas

Narrated by: Gary Roelofs

Length: 8 hrs and 57 mins

Publisher's summary

In this third edition of Border Games, Peter Andreas charts the rise and transformation in policing the flow of drugs and migrants across the US-Mexico border. Recent border crackdowns and wall-building campaigns, he argues, are not unprecedented. Rather, they are the outcome of an escalatory dynamic already in motion—but now played out on a far bigger stage, with higher stakes, and in new security and political contexts.

Focusing on the power of symbolic politics and policy feedback effects, Andreas traces the logic behind such buildup. Border policing is an attractive political mechanism for handling the often unintended consequences of past policy choices, signaling a commitment to territorial integrity and projecting an image of territorial authority. Yet its negative aftermath is not only frequently glossed over; it also fuels further escalation. With new chapters on the border policies of the Obama, Trump, and Biden administrations, Border Games continues to help listeners grasp how the busiest border in the world is also one of the most fortified, and why it plays such a complicated and contentious role in both domestic politics and US-Mexico relations.

The book is published by Cornell University Press. The audiobook is published by University Press Audiobooks.

©2022 Cornell University (P)2022 Redwood Audiobooks

Critic reviews

"Andreas's insightful and rigorous study is an important contribution to the literature on globalization and transnational illicit trade." (American Political Science Review)

"This outstanding book is a much-needed addition to the literature on the policing of international boundaries." (The Professional Geographer)

"An engaging and readable book...recommended for all levels." (Choice)

Worthwhile Book on Border Politics - Solid 4

NOTE: I received this audiobook for free in return for promising to write an unbiased review.

Definitely worth listening to (or reading) for anyone interested in border topics. Main thrust of the book is that much of border enforcement is political theatre regardless of results. After hearing the introduction, I thought maybe he overstated the case, but he piles up a lot of supporting evidence. The book is really strong on data and references to actual events, implying impressive research. It was a little dry and academic in places and for an audiobook it required a lot of hitting the replay button because the info was often presented pretty densely. I found the earlier history (which made up the previous editions) more compelling than the newer material which seemed less focused (as well as more well known).

Some miscellaneous thoughts about the book:
1) Would have like some comments on to what extent the politicians involved were intentionally creating policies they knew would be ineffective as opposed to actually wanting to achieve results but being unable to.
2) More about why illegal immigration and drugs are seen as problems to the extent that they are; what causes such great passion about these.
3) More about the demand side of the equation, especially demand for drugs (and how the U.S. stacks up against other countries). And why there is so much less support for treatment and for programs to curb demand.
4) Relatedly, some thoughts about better approaches to the border issues. I believe that unchecked use of drugs above the level of marijuana can is undesirable for a society (the reason the Chinese pushed back against the British opium trade in the 19th century, leading to the Opium War and eventual subjugation of China). I also think that leftist though I am, the idea of open borders is putting the cart before the horse. The world isn't ready for it, and it would just create chaos, when there are such differences between nations.
5) More about which Mexicans and Central Americans come to the US and their reasons for coming. Also, why Mexico fails to provide adequate opportunities for them and why it lags so much behind the U.S.
6) I think big missing points in the book are the failure to link the border issues to both the consequences of globalization and to capitalist economics.

All that said, the book is a solid and intelligent effort and worthy of a listen (or read) if you're interested in the topic of borders in any way.