Olga Cielemecka & Jussi P. Laine have published an article in the Journal of Borderlands Studies analysing the recent wave of border fortifications in Europe as a symptom of deepening hybrid insecurities. The authors examine why Poland and Finland have turned to large scale fencing projects despite decades of post Cold War optimism about openness and cross border cooperation. The article asks what political work these fences perform and what kinds of fears and narratives they materialise. Drawing on the concepts of hybrid attacks and instrumentalised migration, the study shows how a pervasive sense of threat has enabled governments to legitimise exclusionary policies in the name of security and control. They argue that while fences offer a visible response to insecurity, they do little to address the underlying drivers of displacement and geopolitical tension. Instead, they risk creating a false sense of protection that distracts from more structural solutions. The research highlights the symbolic, political and affective dimensions of contemporary fortification and invites a broader reflection on Europe’s shifting security landscape.