A Borderless World

Satellite image of Europe

Flickr Creative Commons/NASA

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Original Air Date: 
May 01, 2016

There are nearly 250 million migrants across the world right now. Some will be escaping war or oppression, others will be seeking out freedom or economic prosperity, but whatever the reason, the kind of life they're looking for lies across a border that's policed and restricted. What if it didn't have to be that way? This hour, we explore a world without borders.

Artist Molly Crabapple On Why Borders Are Immoral

A US passport.
Dangerous Ideas

Countries around the world pour money into policing their borders — with walls real or virtual — while a global black market smuggles people across them for money. Artist Molly Crabapple imagines another way.

Length: 
4:30

The Case For Open Borders

open borders
Audio

Economist Bryan Caplan and producer Rehman Tungekar explain how an "open borders" policy could end global poverty.

Length: 
6:52

We're Mostly Talking About Closing Our Borders. What If We Opened Them Instead?

A globe with political boundaries
Articles

"To The Best Of Our Knowledge" talked to artist Molly Crabapple, economist Bryan Caplan and global strategist Parag Khanna about the differing ways they came to the same conclusion: that borders have become an outdated concept.

Length: 
10:57

Rethinking The History Of Mass Migration In America

Immigrants on ocean steamer passing the Statue of Liberty, New York City, 1887
Audio

University of Chicago historian Tara Zahra looks at the period of mass migration to America between 1846-1940. She says it was characterized by deep anxiety, both in the US and Europe.

Length: 
10:50

Living and Working in the US, Illegally

Fence
Audio

There are currently 11 million undocumented immigrants living in the U.S. Jose Angel N is one of them.

Length: 
6:34

The Hidden Life of An Economic Migrant

Sunjeev Sahota
Audio

In "The Year of the Runaways," British novelist Sunjeev Sahota tells the story of three recent immigrants to the UK, and with deft precision examines their struggles, fears, and relationships.

Length: 
9:49
Show Details 📻
Airdates
May 01, 2016
January 29, 2017
Guests: 

Molly Crabapple

Artist
twitter.com
mollycrabapple.com

Bryan Caplan

Economist
bcaplan.com
twitter.com

Parag Khanna

Global Strategist
paragkhanna.com
twitter.com

Tara Zahra

Historian
history.uchicago.edu
To The Best Of Our Knowledge

Jose Angel N

Graduate Student

Sunjeev Sahota

Novelist
Categories: 
Politics and History
Last modified: 
February 28, 2019