BORDER WALL SYSTEMS
Article 13 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights from 1948 states that everyone has the right to “freedom of movement and residence within the borders of each state” and to “leave any country, including their own, and return to their country.” So why are we increasingly building border walls?
We answer:
- The reasons behind the global phenomenon of building walls and fences.
- Who builds the most fences and what technologies are used?
- Why did we build walls in the past?
- Who benefits and who bears the costs?
REASONS FOR BUILDING FENCES
The main reason for building walls has always been and continues to be security needs. In many countries, political leaders advocate for their construction, invoke:
MIGRATIONS
33%
TERRORISM
20%
SMUGGLING
16%
DISPUTED TERRITORY
10%
[PERCENTAGE SUMMARY OF REASONS FOR BUILDING WALLS GLOBALLY]
Currently, 14% of adults worldwide (710 million people) migrate. It is predicted that in Africa alone, the working-age population will increase by about 1 billion by 2055, increasing pressure at the gates of Europe and China. Environmental issues may exacerbate this process. According to the World Bank, water shortages and climate disasters will force up to 143 million people to relocate by 2050.
Last year, there were 8,302 terrorist acts worldwide, a 3% increase from 2020 (according to the State Department report). These acts affected nearly 90 countries, with 84% concentrated in three geographic regions: West Asia, South Asia, and Sub-Saharan Africa. In Europe in 2020, there were 57 attempted terrorist attacks (according to the Europol report).
The most commonly smuggled goods in the world are drugs and weapons. In 2020, over 181 tons were seized in Europe alone (according to the EMCCDA report).
There are currently 105 disputed borders worldwide, 24 of which are in Asia.
HISTORICAL BORDER WALLS
Since ancient times, people have built not only walls surrounding cities and fortresses but also massive fortifications to secure state borders. The most famous of these is the Great Wall of China, but there are many other examples of such fortifications. The most famous and largest are presented in the following list.
Great Wall of China
- Location: China
- Date of construction: 220 BC
- Length: 21196 km
- Purpose: Protection of agricultural lands from nomadic tribes from the north.
Zmiyevsky Shafts
- Location: Ukraine
- Date of construction: 2nd century BC
- Length: 2000 km
- Purpose: Protection of agricultural Sarmatians against nomadic Scythians or Goths.
Hadrian’s Wall
- Location: United Kingdom
- Date of construction: 2nd century AD
- Length: 170 km
- Purpose: Protection of the Roman Empire from Pictish invasions.
Upper Germanic-Rhaetian Limes
- Location: Europe
- Date of construction: 2nd century AD
- Length: 550 km
- Purpose: Protection of the Roman Empire from Germans.
Great Wall of Gorgan
- Location: Iran
- Date of construction: 3rd century AD
- Length: 220 km
- Purpose: Protection of the Parthian state from Asian tribes.
Offa’s Dyke
- Location: United Kingdom
- Date of construction: 8th century AD
- Length: 240 km
- Purpose: Border between Mercia and the Kingdom of Powys.
Walls of Benin
- Location: Nigeria
- Date of construction: 15th century AD
- Length: 16000 km
- Purpose: Defensive
BORDER FENCES
Since the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989, the number of border walls has increased. From 2011 to 2018, seven fences were built within the EU. In 2015 alone, 14 were built worldwide. Currently, 63 borders are reinforced with walls, fences, or other forms of barriers, including:
[BORDERS WHERE BOUNDARY WALLS HAVE BEEN/ARE BEING BUILT]
Longest border fence
INDIA: Covers 43% of its borders (6,540 km).
Most border walls
ISRAEL: 6 walls (with Egypt, Jordan, Gaza Strip, Lebanon, Palestine, Syria)
Largest military barrier
MOROCCO-WESTERN SAHARA: 2,720 km, armed with 9 million landmines.
Most fenced-off country
SYRIA: Surrounded by fences on borders with four out of five neighboring countries (Israel, Turkey, Jordan, Iraq)
Fenced country in Europe
VATICAN: Surrounded by the Leonine Walls (3.2 km) from the 9th century.
First border fence within the Schengen area
Built in 2015 on the border of AUSTRIA and SLOVENIA (4.4 km).
Most difficult barrier to overcome
KUWAIT/IRAQ: The fence is electrified, preceded by a 4.6 m wide and deep trench and a 3-meter-high embankment. The entire border is guarded by hundreds of soldiers.
Most advanced barrier
Between SAUDI ARABIA and IRAQ. Equipped with night vision cameras, sensors, 50 radars, 78 monitoring towers. Operated by 8 command centers. Systems detect people 19 km and vehicles 39 km from the border.
Largest demilitarized zone
KOREA (North and South): A 4 km wide and 238 km long zone, heavily militarized on both sides with advanced weaponry, including nuclear, biological, and chemical weapons.
Most expensive border fence
rump Wall between USA and MEXICO. Cost $11 billion – nearly $20 million per mile – making it the most expensive wall of its kind in the world.
What about Poland?
The impetus for the creation of the border fence was a minimal influx of refugees. The Polish Border Guard indicated that last year 122 people were detained illegally crossing the border in the Podlasie region. This year, about 780 foreigners were detained. Fifty cities were placed under a state of emergency. Meanwhile, from September 10-16, Russian exercises ZAPAD took place, one scenario of which involved a border conflict triggered by a wave of refugees.
SEPARATION FENCES
Separation fences are built within countries to isolate “problematic” areas such as poverty-stricken or violent neighborhoods.
Peace Walls
- Location: Belfast [Northern Ireland]
- Date of construction: 1969
- Length: 3 km
- Purpose: Separation of Catholic and Protestant communities.
Security Wall
- Location: Baghdad
- Date of construction: 2007
- Length: 5 km
- Purpose: Separation of Sunni and Shia neighborhoods.
Walls of Tears
- Location: Rio de Janeiro
- Date of construction: 2009
- Length: 6 km
- Purpose: Separation of favelas from the rest of the city (official government stance: the walls help combat drug gangs and protect nature).
WHO BENEFITS?
Many walls and fences are built by local construction companies or state entities like the military. However, the rise of border barriers has created a multi-billion dollar security business for private defense firms specializing in communication, information technology, and biometrics. From 2005 to 2020, exports of advanced border security technologies by Israeli companies grew by 22% annually. The biggest beneficiaries are American companies Airbus and Boeing, and Israeli companies Elbit Systems and Magal Security Systems.
FORECAST
It is likely that in the coming decades, we will see increased migration due to poverty, violence, or climate changes. The wars in Syria and Afghanistan displace a record number of people, making it unlikely that the movement of migrants will decrease. As a result, the number of border walls will surely increase. The United Nations Refugee Agency reported in June that 59.5 million people – 1 in 122 worldwide – have fled their countries seeking refuge.
It is important to remember that walls do not block the flow of people but redirect it. They cannot eliminate terrorism or illegal trade. However, walls serve as powerful political tools, reflecting tough anti-immigration policies and supporting the defense industry.