Colonial Engineering of Straight Borders: A Study in Geopolitical Thought of Southwest Egypt

Abstract

Political borders are among the most significant outcomes of geopolitical thought Not all boundaries were established according to natural features such as valleys, mountains, and rivers; rather, many were the result of colonial decisions that relied on linear engineering through the use of latitude and longitude Southwest Egypt stands as a remarkable example of this pattern, where the borders of Egypt, Libya, and Sudan converge at a point forming an almost perfect right angle close to 90 degrees The significance of this study lies in its focus on the intellectual and geographical dimensions of straight-line borders, which emerged independently from natural factors, serving instead as evidence of colonial powers reshaping the political map of the desert The study further illustrates how mathematical measurements were transformed into fixed political landmarks, making straight lines and right angles symbols with profound geopolitical implications. The aim of the study is to analyse the intellectual and geographical foundations behind the drawing of these borders by revisiting colonial legacies and decisions made by imperial powers in the region It situates these within geopolitical thought that interprets straight-line borders as tools for controlling spheres of influence and redistributing power The research adopts an analytical and critical approach, integrating historical, geographical, and intellectual perspectives to understand this unique border phenomenon. The study concludes that the straight borders of southwest Egypt are not merely lines drawn on maps, but rather the product of a complex interplay between geographical thought and colonial politics They represent a model for understanding how borders are constructed in desert regions Consequently, this case contributes to enriching academic debates on the relationship between geopolitical thought and artificial borders that continue to shape contemporary geography.