Unequal Neighbors

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San Diego and Tijuana, while often viewed through the lens of national border enforcement, are neighboring cities with intertwined histories, cultures, and economies. This work shifts focus from the national border to a local one, investigating how place stigma reinforces perceived inequalities between these cities. In San Diego, a narrative portrays it as a hub of economic vitality and safety, contrasting sharply with Tijuana, which is often stigmatized as impoverished and unsafe. These dual representations mischaracterize the complexities of both cities and have tangible effects, benefiting some while disadvantaging others. Through various empirical materials, the authors explore how stigmatizing portrayals of Tijuana in media, everyday conversations, economic interactions, and tourism shape perceptions and reinforce asymmetries. Yet, both stigma and borders can be contested, leading to "debordering" practices and counter-narratives that challenge Tijuana's negative image. While the specifics pertain to this region, the processes documented provide insight into the broader phenomenon of unequal neighbors, highlighting how cultural practices contribute to the creation of asymmetric borders between places.