Stakeholder Views on Improving Border Management

Increased security has slowed the flow of goods and people and increased frustration of businesses and travelers. These disruptions are serious because they threaten to undermine economic opportunities in border regions, erode social ties and weaken competitiveness in the highly integrated North American economy. Those most affected by border changes are the border user groups generally situated in border communities. These groups have the greatest experience with the border and are most aware of the variability of border policies and management practices. These groups, referred to as stakeholders in this study, are in a unique position because of their proximity to border functions and operations. Thus, it is reasonable to assume that their opinions and ideas should merit careful consideration as continuing and new efforts to improve border policy move forward. Few studies have systematically focused on the attitudes and perspectives of border stakeholders. The purpose of this study is to examine border stakeholders’ perspectives on the state of border management and how it might be improved in the future. Border management refers to the carrying out of border functions, which for the most part relate to policing and securitizing territorial space. Although the researchers’ focus is primarily the land and sea boundary which bisects the Cascade Corridor region in the Pacific northwest of North America, border management functions also occur away from the border at sites such as airports, highway checkpoints and inland marine ports. Border management functions are carried out primarily, but not exclusively, by officials representing the US and Canadian governments. Such functions are the product of a complex mix of policies, practices, institutions and ideologies. This analysis of stakeholders’ perspectives on border management is based on interviews with key stakeholders, equally divided between Canadians and Americans. The interviews addressed stakeholders’ views on the functions of the border, border performance and border management, including what should be done in the future.

• Record URL:
  • http://thetbwg.org/downloads/stakeholderviews.pdf
• 
• Corporate Authors:

  Border Policy Research Institute

  Western Washington University
  516 High Street
  Bellingham, WA  United States  98225-9110
• Authors:
  • Alper, Donald K
  • Hammond, Bryant
• Publication Date: 2009-12

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Digital/other
• Features: Appendices; Maps; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 64p

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Interviewing; Management; Policy; Stakeholders
• Geographic Terms: British Columbia; United States-Canada Border; Washington (State)
• Subject Areas: Administration and Management; Policy; Transportation (General); I10: Economics and Administration; I70: Traffic and Transport;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01539574
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: Research Report No. 8
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Sep 29 2014 12:10PM