The conference took place in Seattle, USA, from April 2 to 5, 2025, under the theme “Governing Across Borders: (Re)imagining People, Place, and Policy.” The event was held in partnership with the World Social Science Association (WSSA) and brought together a diverse international community of scholars and practitioners focused on critical issues related to borders, governance, and global challenges.
Director of the Research Center for Global Risk, Professor Akihiro Iwashita, and Assistant Professor Yesbol Sartayev participated in the Association for Borderlands Studies (ABS), contributing to the roundtable session titled “Border Studies and Global Risk” on the 3rd, April.
The following distinguished participants, as part of the roundtable session titled “Border Studies and Global Risk,” shared their insights on how contemporary conflicts and geopolitical tensions are reshaping the field of border studies and global risk discourse:
- Professor Akihiro Iwashita (Nagasaki University, Research Center for Global Risk) served as moderator and provided a comprehensive overview of global risks, including geopolitical instability, environmental stressors, and shifting power dynamics.
- Professor Ha Young-chool (University of Washington, The Henry M. Jackson School of International Studies) discussed the geostrategic implications of war on U.S.–Korea relations, with a focus on the rising influence of the Russia–North Korea axis in global security.
- Professor Hyunjoo Naomi Chi (Hokkaido University, Graduate School of Public Policy) analyzed migration trends and the humanitarian impact of recent conflicts in Northeast Asia, highlighting implications for border governance.
- Professor David Wolf (Hokkaido University, Slavic-Eurasian Research Center) offered a comparative perspective on border securitization and the rise of authoritarian governance in North America and Asia.
- Professor Mikhail Alexseev (San Diego State University, Department of Political Science), though unable to attend in person, shared a written statement that was presented by Professor Iwashita. The message summarized his collaborative research on Russian territorial expansion, emphasizing distinctions between statist and ethnic expansionism, the influence of generational memory of former imperial borders.
- Assistant Professor Yesbol Sartayev (Nagasaki University, Research Center for Global Risk) presented on “War and the Vulnerability of Nuclear Facilities,” drawing attention to the strategic and symbolic targeting of nuclear infrastructure during military conflicts. He underscored the importance of incorporating nuclear safety and security into global risk governance strategies.
The session concluded with an engaging discussion, during which audience members raised timely questions about recent political developments under the Trump administration, the progression of the Russian–Ukrainian war, and nuclear safety concerns related to nuclear facilities.
The roundtable facilitated vibrant academic exchange among participants from Asia, North America, and beyond, and reflected ABS’s strong commitment to advancing interdisciplinary dialogue on pressing transnational issues.
