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Abstract

The Israel–Egypt border functions not merely as a geographic demarcation, but as a social, political, and cultural space imbued with symbolic meaning. Since its establishment in 1906 up to the construction of Project Hourglass in 2010, this border has shifted from a colonial administrative line to a fragile symbol of peace and a site of global securitization. This study employs a qualitative approach based on literature review and representational analysis, drawing on Stuart Hall’s representation theory as well as David Newman and Anssi Paasi’s concepts of borders in area studies. The findings reveal that the Israel-Egypt border is represented through four main dimensions: security, economy, politics-diplomacy, and humanitarianism. Project Hourglass materializes these representations, reflecting the tension between safeguarding national security and reinforcing separation. This analysis concludes that the Israel-Egypt border is not merely a geographic fact, but a multidimensional socio-political construct produced through media discourse, political narratives, and public perception, thereby contributing to a deeper understanding of how border representations shape regional dynamics and influence international relations.

References

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Bahasa Abstract

Perbatasan Israel-Mesir tidak hanya berfungsi sebagai garis geografis, melainkan juga sebagai ruang sosial, politik, dan budaya yang penuh dengan makna simbolik. Sejak awal pembentukannya pada tahun 1906 hingga pembangunan Project Hourglass pada tahun 2010, perbatasan ini telah bergeser dari sekadar garis administratif kolonial menjadi lambang perdamaian yang ‘rapuh’ sekaligus menjadi ruang securitization global. Penelitian ini menggunakan metode kualitatif berbasis studi literatur dan analisis representasi, dengan mengacu pada teori representasi Stuart Hall serta konsep perbatasan dalam studi kewilayahan dari David Newman dan Anssi Paasi. Temuan penelitian menunjukkan bahwa perbatasan Israel-Mesir direpresentasikan dalam empat dimensi utama, yaitu keamanan, ekonomi, politik-diplomasi, dan kemanusiaan. Project Hourglass menjadi wujud nyata dari representasi itu, menunjukkan ketegangan antara menjaga keamanan dan mendorong pemisahan. Analisis ini menunjukkan bahwa perbatasan Israel-Mesir bukan hanya fakta geografis, melainkan konstruksi sosial-politik multidimensional yang diproduksi melalui wacana media, narasi politik, dan persepsi publik, sehingga berkontribusi dalam memperluas pemahaman tentang bagaimana representasi perbatasan membentuk dinamika regional dan mempengaruhi hubungan internasional.

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