Book launch: Smugglers and States

We are thrilled to host the launch for the book Smugglers and States, with an introduction by its author Max Gallien, followed by a drinks reception.

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Smuggling is typically thought of as furtive and hidden, taking place under the radar and beyond the reach of the state. But in many cases, governments tacitly permit illicit cross-border commerce, or even devise informal arrangements to regulate it. Drawing on extensive fieldwork in the borderlands of Tunisia and Morocco, Max Gallien’s book Smugglers and States: Negotiating the Maghreb at its Margins explains why states have long tolerated illegal trade across their borders and develops new ways to understand the political economy of smuggling. The book examines the rules and agreements that govern smuggling in North Africa, arguing that while states have long relied on it to secure political acquiescence and maintain order, the securitization of borders, wars, political change, and the pandemic have put these arrangements under pressure.

These observations have direct consequences for how we think of the role of smuggling in development. As smugglers and states are commonly framed as the key antagonists in a battle for an ordered and inclusive globalisation, internationally financed interventions in this area frequently focus on border security and infrastructure. This book reframes this challenge, highlighting the role of historical regional inequalities and the economic vulnerabilities that they have created in borderlands. It argues for an engagement with smuggling that is rooted in addressing these legacies and developing inclusive developmental strategies in borderlands.

The event will start with an introduction to the book by Max Gallien, followed by a conversation with Shandana Khan Mohmand, a Q&A and a drinks reception.

Speaker

Max Gallien, IDS Research Fellow.

Chair

Shandana Khan Mohmand, IDS Research Fellow.

How to attend

You can attend the event in person, or you can register to watch online via Zoom.

Accessibility

This event is in the IDS Convening Space which is on the 1st floor of the IDS Building. If you need to use the lift, then press 1A. If you have any accessibility needs for this event, then please email: [email protected]