While world political maps appear to show neatly demarcated national borders, these borders are often contested, and the map’s snapshot obscures how contemporary states emerged from historical processes like colonialism and decolonization that shaped their borders and staggered timing of joining international organizations like the UN. Considering this temporal context provides insights into the legacy of imperialism underlying the present international system.
The lands of Indigenous peoples disappear on most maps. This article and counter map reveal their continued presence and draw attention to the impact of settler borders.