Betweenstates

Betweenstates is a term used in political geography, sociology, and border studies to describe spaces, practices, and communities that exist in the transitional zone between sovereign states. It denotes not a single place but a spectrum of borderlands, bi-national regions, and areas where jurisdictional boundaries are porous or disputed. The concept focuses on how people and institutions navigate overlapping authorities, shared infrastructures, and cross-border flows.

Key features of betweenstates include boundary permeability, hybrid governance, and transnational social networks. Economic activity often transcends formal borders through cross-border trade, commuting, and common infrastructure such as roads, utilities, or environmental management. Legal regimes in betweenstates may be mixed or layered, combining elements of national law, local ordinances, and international agreements. Security, immigration controls, and customs arrangements can be more elastic in practice than in statute, leading to unique governance challenges and opportunities for cooperation.

In policy and research, betweenstates is used to study cross-border cooperation, borderlands development, and regional resilience. It often informs the design of regional bodies, joint commissions, and cross-border trade zones. The concept also addresses identity and culture, as communities in betweenstates may develop shared languages, traditions, or loyalties that cross national lines.

Critics caution that the term can obscure power imbalances or the differential impact of border controls on marginalized groups. They argue that “betweenstates” should be complemented with concrete analysis of sovereignty, enforcement, and inequality. See also borderland, border region, cross-border cooperation, sovereignty, international law.