This thesis project aims to analyse that aspect of contemporary life that is leading us to a dramatic increase of the barriers and fortifications that divide countries from each other.
In this historical period where the freedom of movement of people, goods and capital is considered as the primary objective and fundamental part of our modern society, the same society continues to build walls between residents and immigrants, rich and poor, citizens and foreigners.
The business of these barriers and any new technology used to keep out those who would come or who would like to escape it’s in a gold period, in 2015 the total turnover of the sector has exceeded 14 billion dollars, in 2020 is expected to rise to almost $ 21 billion, an increase of 7% for each year.
Zygmunt Baumann it call it "liquid society" whereas everything is shaky uncertain, fluid and fickle whilw the barriers are a very physical and concrete problem, and for this reason that we need a real concrete solution.
Because if it is true that in recent decades some social boundaries have been demolished, others more internal and more personal have raised around our daily life more resistant and unnoticed, away from the nerve centers of society, producing tensions between openings and barricades, mergers and partitions, public and private spaces that materialize in liberalized borders and in a huge increase appropriations energies and technologies for strengthening them.
But if instead of fortifying the borders with these barriers and military equipment could return the borders to have a meaning for exchange and contact, opening these lines as zipper turning these frontier lands in places where the different lives in his everyday life?
Creating in this way a dialogue with who are on the other side, with the other or the stranger.
As well as places of the "third landscape" of Gilles Clément: undecided and no purpose "refuge areas for biological diversity that has no place anywhere else". And the "third space" of Homi K. Bhabha: "theoretical place and symbolic where the antagonisms between rulers and ruled will vanish in the concept of "cultural hybridity which includes the difference and is the prerequisite for a constructive meeting between cultures no longer imposed hierarchies", places of this new Third Zone contain the very concept of contact and confrontation, research or hope for a better future in areas that now, too often, they look like no man's land.
With this project we want to redefine these kind of spaces, now defined by a simple dividing line in a physical and real places of encounter and exchange between peoples and cultures that before were divided by a wall, where the only option was to turn and look in the other way.
We want to trace the foundations and the physical structure to allow the birth of a border culture where now there is only a culture of conflict.
Starting from the case of "Trade Facilitation Centre" in Salamabad Uri (Kashmir region), on the border between India and Pakistan, where it has formed between the two states a market without taxation. Where the parties can trade in an area where for over 60 years has been characterized by a border war.
The project is to bring the same kind of experience on other borders, in order to create more Third Zone where can have commercial and cultural exchanges between different parts then now are in conflict or just separated.
The main site where we want work is the Mexico/United States border, being probably the most symbolic border of our time. Where two neighboring nations, with a full economic relationships, are separated by more than 3.000km of wall around is already forming a new form of hybrid border culture, an evolution of Chicano culture.
Taking advantage of existing NAFTA agreement (North American Free Trade Agreement), it’possible to create a free market area between the two country. A hinged zone on both sides in full security, were the people can trade with who usualy i’ts on the other side of the wall.
Obviously it is not so easy to do as you say, it’s necessary a long reconciliation path that step by step allows the population to change the perception of the border.
We found four main step necessary to reach this results: Look, Touch, Share and Live.
We found four main step necessary to reach this results: Look, Touch, Share and Live.
Every step it’s fundamental for the breakdown of these barriers, but this process can not be imposed by a "superior presence", it can only be an incipit capable of causing the mind of the concerned population to feel the will and the need for a change and a re-approach to the other.
Here you can find the full thesis report (Italian): https://issuu.com/francescopestarino/docs/tesi
Focus on Thirt Zone method:
