Semiotic Walls: Militarization, Crisis, and the Legal Language of Exclusion at Poland’s Eastern Border

This chapter provides a semiotic examination of the wall on Poland’s eastern border by analyzing it as a powerful physical barrier and symbol rooted in themes of militarization, crisis, and legal language. Situated at the edge of the European Union, the structure resonates with global narratives on border control and security.

The wall’s construction was driven by perceived threats, and when constructed, it triggered significant militarization across various spheres, including public discourse. State and media narratives framed the wall as a necessary defense against hybrid warfare and forced migration. That justified the use of more restrictive policies through security and legal connotations.

The wall’s function is multifaceted. It acts as a visual sign of exclusion and delineates boundaries of belonging and nonbelonging while sparking moral panics and fostering polarized opinions. Narratives surrounding it are linked to the criminalization of migration and ethical dilemmas like pushbacks.

This chapter explores how this symbol influences internal affairs and is used to maintain power nationally and internationally. By scrutinizing the interplay between the wall’s physical presence and its symbolic significance, the chapter reveals how it constructs narratives that justify political action and fuel anti-immigration movements. Ultimately, this work offers insights into the complex semiotic dimensions of law, politics, and exclusion in twenty-first-century border control.