Association for Borderlands Studies

The Association for Borderlands Studies (ABS) is the leading international scholarly association dedicated to the systematic study and exchange of ideas, information and analysis of international border, and the processes and communities engendered by such borders. Founded in 1976 with the original impetus for the study of the United States-Mexico borderlands, the Association has experienced a steady expansion and transformation in recent years. Currently, the ABS membership encompasses scholars, experts, and professionals in universities, international organizations, citizen associations, and governments in 55 countries in the Americas, Europe, Asia, and Africa. The Association maintains constant relations with academic institutions and associations with similar interests all around the world and maintains an active presence in Europe, Asia, and Latin America through its regional chapters. Through its Annual Meeting and the World Border Conference held every four years, the ABS fosters the discussion and critical exam of the latest knowledge about border themes and issues worldwide.