Review of Undoing Border Imperialism by Harsha Walia

Although over a decade old at this point, Undoing Border Imperialism still feels relevant today in 2024—maybe even more urgent and important than it was when Harsha Walia first wrote and assembled it. Part how-to, part manifesto, part oral history, this compact volume works hard to syncretize different modes of resistance, from academic theory to grassroots activism. It is a volume I sorely needed to read as I navigate my own journey trying to figure out how to be a more effective, more participatory activist.

The core of this book looks at resistance against the Canadian state via NOII (No One Is Illegal), and specifically the NOII-Vancouver branch in which Walia has participated. Though focused therefore on migrant justice, fights against deportation, etc., Walia explicitly addresses the need for intersectionality, particularly with regards to Indigenous self-determination and sovereignty, as well as anticapitalism. She discusses her own experience occasionally. However, she focuses mainly on what NOII has accomplished, how the NOII groups have functioned, and what advice she or other activists she has interviewed would give to people looking to be more involved in this advocacy. The result is impressively well-organized, incisive, and inspiring.

I appreciate how Walia makes space for different lenses of activism. The book starts grounded in theory before branching out into practice, and Walia notes the tension between these two worlds. As someone whose background is heavily academic, intellectual, rational, part of my work is unlearning some of these modes of thinking, expanding my perspective so I better understand what it is like to do work on the ground. At the same time, Walia cites a lot of theorists, scholars, and writers whose names I had never heard or whose work I haven’t read. There is so much more for me to learn!

Probably the most enlightening chapter for me personally was “Overgrowing Hegemony: Grassroots Theory” (see what Walia did there, lol). Walia criticizes NGOs for being reliant on funding from governments or institutions that, in turn, might expect them to be less radical. She contrasts this with the model of NOII and other, more fluid groups. This analysis really helped me understand why I have felt disappointed in a local collective that I initially thought could be more radical than it turned out to be—they are organized as a nonprofit, with a board, etc. Walia sounds the alarm that the path towards respectability and campaigns for mainstream reform can be tempting but fraught with problems.

At the same time, Undoing Border Imperialism does not pretend that NOII or similar groups are utopian. Walia is honest about the challenges of operating such groups, the unspoken hierarchies that can emerge, and the need often to work alongside other groups who don’t always share your values. This latter point was interesting to me. We are so polarized, and the Left has a serious problem right now with purity culture and eating itself, especially on social media. Walia’s approach is practical, compassionate, but also grounded in an unflinching commitment to her group’s core principles. Her point is that you can align on strategy without expecting one hundred percent concordance on beliefs. However, she also stresses that there is no one-size-fits-all solution to working alongside diverse groups. It’s always going to be a conversation—and that is so important too.

I must admit I don’t know a ton about migrant justice issues in Canada. I learned some from reading Policing Black Lives, and I have been trying to follow the conversation around the temporary foreign worker program. Our society doesn’t seem like it is interested in having a serious discussion, however, about the racism and xenophobia within Canada; we are too interested in pretending we are so much more welcoming and inclusive than the United States. Walia and other activists whose voices are included in this book are very critical of Canada as a nation-state. As they should be. Undoing Border Imperialism might not radicalize you by itself, but it is a fantastic resource on your path to further radicalization.

Ultimately, this is a book that encourages action rather than armchairing. If you want to learn more about signing petitions and posting on social media, this book is not for you. I can’t claim I am going to immediately go out and start hanging out with my local activists and putting my body on the line in direct action—I’d love to say that, but it would be untrue. But this is a book that shows you how direct action works in concert, not in opposition, with other forms of resistance.