La Valla and the edge of sovereignty: A rhetorical study of protection and isolation in Melilla

This paper analyzes interviews with residents of the Spanish enclave of Melilla in the North of Africa to examine common assumptions about the border in their speech. Following Wendy Brown (2010), its main aim is to challenge the assumption that the border fence is a symbol of state sovereignty. To...

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Detalhes bibliográficos
Autor: Delshad, Parisa
Formato: artículo
Estado:Versión publicada
Fecha de publicación:2025
País:España
Recursos:Universidad de Salamanca (USAL)
Repositorio:GREDOS. Repositorio Institucional de la Universidad de Salamanca
OAI Identifier:oai:gredos.usal.es:10366/169416
Acesso em linha:http://hdl.handle.net/10366/169416
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palavra-chave:Rhetoric
Border
Sovereignty
La valla
Melilla
5101 Antropología Cultural
5701.07 Lengua y Literatura
6202.03 Estilo y Estética Literarios
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oai_identifier_str oai:gredos.usal.es:10366/169416
network_acronym_str ES
network_name_str España
repository_id_str
spelling La Valla and the edge of sovereignty: A rhetorical study of protection and isolation in MelillaDelshad, ParisaRhetoricBorderSovereigntyLa vallaMelilla5101 Antropología Cultural5701.07 Lengua y Literatura6202.03 Estilo y Estética LiterariosThis paper analyzes interviews with residents of the Spanish enclave of Melilla in the North of Africa to examine common assumptions about the border in their speech. Following Wendy Brown (2010), its main aim is to challenge the assumption that the border fence is a symbol of state sovereignty. To do so, it draws on Balibar’s (2002) tripartite conceptualization of the border: overdetermination, polysemy, and heterogeneity. The conclusion reached is that la valla (the fence) in Melilla, rather than reflecting state power, security, or sovereignty, actually signals the decline of sovereignty and the state’s inability to address the complexities of the globalized world. The border not only fails to protect but also causes isolation, economic and social suffocation, and disrupts everyday ties with those on the other side. This conclusion is supported by a review of the evolution of Melilla’s fence, the rhetoric of protection used by the nation-state, and an analysis of the metaphors and analogies employed by the interviewees. The paradox of a border that does not protect is reflected in memories of a time when crossing was less restricted. These stories question the supposed threat from the other side and the claimed safety of this one. Finally, the idea that Melilla’s future lies in a stronger relationship with Spain and Europe is rejected for the vicious cycle it produces.EU co-funded project MigraMedia: Migration Narratives in European Media: Teaching, Learning, and Reflecting (Reference: 2023-1-DE01-KA220-HED-000154375)Polish Rhetoric Society202620262025info:eu-repo/semantics/articleinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersionhttp://hdl.handle.net/10366/169416reponame:GREDOS. Repositorio Institucional de la Universidad de Salamancainstname:Universidad de Salamanca (USAL)Inglés2023-1-DE01-KA220-HED-000154375Atribución 4.0 Internacionalhttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccessoai:gredos.usal.es:10366/1694162026-06-07T06:28:51Z
dc.title.none.fl_str_mv La Valla and the edge of sovereignty: A rhetorical study of protection and isolation in Melilla
title La Valla and the edge of sovereignty: A rhetorical study of protection and isolation in Melilla
spellingShingle La Valla and the edge of sovereignty: A rhetorical study of protection and isolation in Melilla
Delshad, Parisa
Rhetoric
Border
Sovereignty
La valla
Melilla
5101 Antropología Cultural
5701.07 Lengua y Literatura
6202.03 Estilo y Estética Literarios
title_short La Valla and the edge of sovereignty: A rhetorical study of protection and isolation in Melilla
title_full La Valla and the edge of sovereignty: A rhetorical study of protection and isolation in Melilla
title_fullStr La Valla and the edge of sovereignty: A rhetorical study of protection and isolation in Melilla
title_full_unstemmed La Valla and the edge of sovereignty: A rhetorical study of protection and isolation in Melilla
title_sort La Valla and the edge of sovereignty: A rhetorical study of protection and isolation in Melilla
dc.creator.none.fl_str_mv Delshad, Parisa
author Delshad, Parisa
author_facet Delshad, Parisa
author_role author
dc.subject.none.fl_str_mv Rhetoric
Border
Sovereignty
La valla
Melilla
5101 Antropología Cultural
5701.07 Lengua y Literatura
6202.03 Estilo y Estética Literarios
topic Rhetoric
Border
Sovereignty
La valla
Melilla
5101 Antropología Cultural
5701.07 Lengua y Literatura
6202.03 Estilo y Estética Literarios
description This paper analyzes interviews with residents of the Spanish enclave of Melilla in the North of Africa to examine common assumptions about the border in their speech. Following Wendy Brown (2010), its main aim is to challenge the assumption that the border fence is a symbol of state sovereignty. To do so, it draws on Balibar’s (2002) tripartite conceptualization of the border: overdetermination, polysemy, and heterogeneity. The conclusion reached is that la valla (the fence) in Melilla, rather than reflecting state power, security, or sovereignty, actually signals the decline of sovereignty and the state’s inability to address the complexities of the globalized world. The border not only fails to protect but also causes isolation, economic and social suffocation, and disrupts everyday ties with those on the other side. This conclusion is supported by a review of the evolution of Melilla’s fence, the rhetoric of protection used by the nation-state, and an analysis of the metaphors and analogies employed by the interviewees. The paradox of a border that does not protect is reflected in memories of a time when crossing was less restricted. These stories question the supposed threat from the other side and the claimed safety of this one. Finally, the idea that Melilla’s future lies in a stronger relationship with Spain and Europe is rejected for the vicious cycle it produces.
publishDate 2025
dc.date.none.fl_str_mv 2025
2026
2026
dc.type.none.fl_str_mv info:eu-repo/semantics/article
info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion
format article
status_str publishedVersion
dc.identifier.none.fl_str_mv http://hdl.handle.net/10366/169416
url http://hdl.handle.net/10366/169416
dc.language.none.fl_str_mv Inglés
language_invalid_str_mv Inglés
dc.relation.none.fl_str_mv 2023-1-DE01-KA220-HED-000154375
dc.rights.none.fl_str_mv Atribución 4.0 Internacional
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
rights_invalid_str_mv Atribución 4.0 Internacional
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
eu_rights_str_mv openAccess
dc.publisher.none.fl_str_mv Polish Rhetoric Society
publisher.none.fl_str_mv Polish Rhetoric Society
dc.source.none.fl_str_mv reponame:GREDOS. Repositorio Institucional de la Universidad de Salamanca
instname:Universidad de Salamanca (USAL)
instname_str Universidad de Salamanca (USAL)
reponame_str GREDOS. Repositorio Institucional de la Universidad de Salamanca
collection GREDOS. Repositorio Institucional de la Universidad de Salamanca
repository.name.fl_str_mv
repository.mail.fl_str_mv
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score 15,812429

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