Take a look at a world map and what do you see? A common reply identifies our planet as  a  puzzle of nations pieced together by contiguous, interlocking (and distinct) borders. Each nation-piece of the puzzle seems to be its own little world, structured and organized with certain/unique people, places, landforms, ideas and “ways of life.”  The borders that connect them, although not physical lines, are recognized borders of identity, government, and culture.

In turn, each of these…