Abroad-ranginghistoryofdefectorsfromtheCommunistworldtotheWestandhowtheirColdWartreatmentshapedpresent-dayrestrictionsoncross-bordermovement.DefectorsfleeingtheSovietUnionseizedtheworld’sattentionduringtheColdWar.Theirstoriesweregivensensationalnewscoverageanddramatizedinspynovelsandfilms.UponreachingtheWest,theywereentitledtospecialbenefits,includingfinancialassistanceandpermanentresidency.Incontrasttoothermigrants,defectorswerepursuedbythestatestheyleftevenastheywereeagerlysoughtbytheUnitedStatesanditsallies.Takingpartinariskygamethatplayedoutacrosstheglobe,defectorssoughttotranscendthelimitationsoftheColdWarworld.Defectorsfollowstheirtreacherousjourneysandlooksathowtheirunauthorizedflightvialand,sea,andairgaveshapetoaglobalizedworld.ItchartsaglobalstruggleoverdefectorsthatunfoldedamongrivalintelligenceagenciesoperatingintheshadowsofanoccupiedEurope,intheforbiddenborderzonesoftheUSSR,inthedisputedstraitsoftheSouthChinaSea,onahijackedplane10,000feetintheair,andaroundthewallsofSovietembassies.WhatitrevealsisaColdWarworldwhoseborderswerefarlessstablethanthenotionofan“IronCurtain“suggests.Surprisingly,thecompetitionfordefectorspavedthewayforcollusionbetweenthesuperpowers,whofoundcommoncauseinregulatingthespacesthroughwhichdefectorsmoved.Disputesoverdefectorsmappedoutthecontoursofmodernstatesovereignty,anddefection’sideologicalframeworkhardenedbordersbyreinforcingtheviewthatasylumshouldonlybegrantedtomigrantswithclearpoliticalclaims.AlthoughdefectionallbutdisappearedaftertheColdWar,thisinnovativeworkshowshowitshapedthegovernanceofglobalbordersandhelpedforgeaninternationalrefugeesystemwhoselegacyandlimitationsremainwithustothisday.
