Introduction

Borders, walls and fences made a remarkable comeback at the turn of the millennium as they now underline one-fifth of the world’s dyads and delimit the territory of states, both failed and prosperous, democratic and authoritarian, scarifying every continent. From daily life discussions to international resolutions, words are powerful and often convey a meaning that is both literal and figurative. Throughout history, languages have evolved, with some concepts or realities being defined by more than one word within the same language. Grouping countries in regional blocs can be useful to highlight shared realities but can also contribute to a persistent lack of knowledge and awareness of country-specific dynamics. Furthermore, it perpetuates an imbalance of power between countries, the powerfuls being named and the less powerfuls being regrouped in regional groups and sub-groups.