Revisiting Huntington: The Morocco-Ceuta-Melilla Border Wall as a Clash of Civilizations Symbol

Abstract

This article critically reexamines the transformation of border politics in the post–Cold War global order by analysing the Spanish enclaves of Ceuta and Melilla, which have transitioned from military bastions into crucial nodes of migratory regulation and economic exchange. It posits that these fortified frontiers, traditionally regarded solely as pragmatic security measures, simultaneously function as civilisational apparatuses that demarcate and accentuate racially and economically defined dichotomies between northern and southern geopolitical spheres. By incorporating Huntington’s theoretical framework, the study advocates for a broader application of his analytical tools in explicating the multifarious interplay between racial identities, economic imperatives, and state security concerns that collectively shape modern border governance. Through a meticulous interrogation of historical legacies, encompassing colonial subjugation, successive political manoeuvrings, and evolving trade practices, the article reveals that these borders, far from being mere physical dividers, serve as potent symbols of ideological partition that sustain enduring disparities. The research further scrutinises the reconfigurations in migratory policies and cross-border exchanges in light of recent diplomatic negotiations and geopolitical shifts, thereby offering a critical reinterpretation of conventional notions of border permeability. Ultimately, the study contends that an expansive utilisation of Huntington’s framework not only enriches our comprehension of international security and national identity but also facilitates a more incisive understanding of how racially and economically charged interpretations of borders continue to influence the persistent contestation between the global north and south.