Seminar

"BORDERS, BORDER REGIONS AND INTERACTION"

On November 26th and 27th in 1998, The Nijmegen Centre for Border Research of the Faculty of Policy Sciences at the University of Nijmegen in the Netherlands held an international seminar on 'Borders, Border Regions and Interaction'. The topic of the seminar is a key issue within the Nijmegen Centre for Border Research. The focus of our research programme is the analysis of the influence borders (still) have on cross-border economic, social and political interaction in the European society. The study of cross-border interaction asks for an approach that goes beyond the borders of a mono-discipline. With excellent international contributors from different disciplines this seminar succeeded in deepening the theoretical discussion on this interesting and important issue. The following key lectures were given:

Prof. Dr. A. Paasi (University of Oulu, Finland): "Borders and identities in the world of de-territorialization"
Prof. Dr. B. Werlen (University of Jena, Germany): "Globalisation and Region - Processes of regionalisations"
Prof. Dr. R. Ratti (University of Fribourg, Istituto Richerche Economiche, Switzerland): "Borders as areas of contact: The alliance strategy, Theory and examples of empirical studies" and
Dr. H. Driessen (University of Nijmegen, The Netherlands): "An Anthropological Perspective on Borders with Special Reference to the Spanish-Moroccan Frontier.".

Discussant of the lectures of Paasi and Werlen was Prof. Dr. P. Weichhart (University of Salzburg, Austria). Dr. H. van Houtum was discussant of Ratti's lecture and Dr. T. van Naerssen (University of Nijmegen, The Netherlands) was discussant of Driessen's lecture.

Click here for the complete programme

The theme of the seminar had three dimensions, all of which have been discussed extensively during the seminar:

First, by internationalising part(s) of its activities, an actor or organisation crosses a border. Borders could first of all be seen as barriers to integration. The adaptation to the differences in legislation and financial system may lead to higher transaction costs for actors or organisations that want to move or expand their activities across the border. The crossing of a border may, however, also imply a confrontation between regional/national identities. Such a confrontation is often expressed in terms of "us" versus "them" and often leads to biased perceptions of reality. Borders then could be seen as cultural and mental thresholds.

Secondly, the theme focused on cross-border linkages between border regions. Border regions are usually considered as culturally, politically and economically peripheral. A widespread belief is, that because of the European integration process, border regions could transform from nationally peripheral regions into international key areas. In this view, border regions are seen as small-scale laboratories of the larger integration process. It can be and was indeed questioned to what extent this belief is justified and this transformation process of border regions is indeed taking place.

Thirdly, the development of an interaction between two actors or organisations from neighbouring border regions asked attention for the study of the why and how of this international interaction between actors or organisations. The formation and building of a cross-border relationship is a dynamic process in which trust and uncertainty both play a crucial role.

For more information on the Nijmegen Centre of Border Research or the conference proceedings, please contact us:

P.O.Box 9108 NL-6500 HK Nijmegen

tel: +31 24 3612725

fax: +31 24 3611841

or mail to:

Henk van Houtum

Martin van der Velde