Introduction

This chapter examines the development of borders and bordering practices in the developed world, in particular the European Union (EU). It outlines how, under the rubric of co-operation with non-EU and/or potential and candidate countries, the Union ‘essentially externalized traditional tools of domestic EU migration control’. The chapter presents an ongoing process of “offshoring” of borders, “Europeanisation” of the Western Balkan, and their impact on border crossers. It discusses key terminology and methodology, as well as some issues pertinent to access to data and gatekeepers in researching migration and mobility. One of the key features of borders is a function they play for sovereign states. They are a formal representation of state power and its ability to enforce social, economic, political, and cultural inclusion and exclusion within its territory by deciding what and who is in and what and who is out. The chapter also presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in this book.