Scientific researches related to cross-border issues in Europe

People approach
borders are given subjective features
borders are regarded as the necessary accompanying factors of social and private life
one of the key elements of the studies: the analysis of the development and impacts of the nations and national identities in contrast with the authoritative role of the states
“... borders should be seen as human creations, as social constructs, conditioned by our perception and attitudes towards space.” (Leimgruber)
identity factor: social spatialisation versus spatial socialisation (Anssi Paasi)
narrative geography (stories of the inhabitants, maps, symbols and photographs) to support his theory
rejects the „natural” borders theory of political geography and (especially the French) believe that borders do not exist among natural circumstances but only those borders exist in nature which are regarded as borders by the individuals

Political geography and cultural geography
relationship between knowledge and power
three aspects in their approach to borders:
demarcating role border lines
functions of borders
regions close to the borders (border regions) and their mutual relationship
most important related disciplines: history, political sciences and ethnography

Political geography and cultural geography
prior to the Second World War (WW2)
foundation of researches
clarification of terminology related to borders
determination of the political geographical border interpretations
following WW2
the exclusive and expansionist terminology developed and used by political geographers and geopoliticians lost rather a lot from its significance
the differentiation between the ‘natural’ and ‘artificial’ borders were usually rejected by the authors;
nevertheless, the study of borders still kept its significance in political geography despite the attacks (especially the German geopoliticians)
Cold War period
special attention is paid to mainland borders separating sovereign nation states
categorisation of the borders and the periods in which they evolved, and made attempts to map border regions and cross-border activities
1990s –
started to concentrate on the cultural connotations associated with border regions
growing interest in the social-cultural processes resulting from the inclusion and exclusion
„WE” and „OTHERS”

Anderson’s four dimensions of the frontier
the means of national politics – since the political powers try to change the location and function of the frontiers
the policies of the governments are limited by the degree of that de facto control which they have over the national borders
the frontiers mark the borders of identity
debated term whose meaning changes in the function of time and space

One of the most important questions which the political geographers want to answer when studying borders is:
“What was first? The hen or the egg? The border or the identity consciousness?”

Traditional political geography and the role of borders, nations and nation states
borders = naturalised lines or barriers of sovereignty (boundaries)
this undermines the dynamic relationship system between the social and spatial trends
Anssi Paasi: three main trends
“the borders and the nation states will lose their former role, or will even disappear from the globalising world and from the current economic geographical order which are defined by mobility, speed and flow”
states and borders are still dominant in the international life but in a new and less rigid way
both the nations and the states will preserve their significance forever, and the problems are more likely to arise in relation to the existence of the nation states

Researches on borders and border regions in the Hungarian studies from a geographical aspect
before 1990s: “borders were treated as fetishes and were made impermeable”
no research was allowed that included both sides of the border
1970s: to “explore the problems of the backward regions and to find solution to their treatment”
border regions were treated as any other backward regions within the borders of the country
1980s: population geographical researches called attention to cross-border co-operations (Great Plain)
1986: “regions in a peculiar situation”
border effect (Kovács), demographic aspects (Kocsis), cross-border relations (Rechnitzer), backwardness (Süli-Zakar)

Focus of the studies on borders and border regions in the Hungarian studies from a geographical aspect – a historical perspective
1970s
1980s
1989-90
1986
1988
1990
border regions =
backward regions
first appearance of the
cross-border phenomenon
B
R
E
A
K
T
H
R
O
U
G
H
„regions in
a peculiar
situation”
„border effect” –
peripheral situation
first study on
demographic aspects

After the change of regime
attention more and more intensively turned towards the opening of borders of Europe
more intensive activity of the Regional Research Institutes of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences in studying border regions
the establishment of research centres and schools concentrating on cross-border co-operations at the Hungarian universities
conferences, seminars and workshops organised by these institutions

Studies on borders and border regions in the Hungarian studies from a geographical aspect – a border perspective
Hungarian-Slovakian
”ethnic preferences”
Hungarian-Austrian
”gate to the European Union”
Hungarian-Slovenian, Hungarian-Croatian, Hungarian-Serbian
”role of borders in the socio-economic processes”
Hungarian-Ukrainian
Hungarian-Romanian
”social-economic peripheries”

Studies on borders and border regions in the Hungarian studies from a geographical aspect – a border perspective
Hungarian-Slovakian
”ethnic preferences”
Hungarian-Austrian
”gate to the European Union”
Hungarian-Slovenian, Hungarian-Croatian, Hungarian-Serbian
”role of borders in the socio-economic processes”
Hungarian-Ukrainian
Hungarian_Romanian
”social-economic peripheries”

Studies on borders and border regions in the Hungarian studies from a geographical aspect – a border perspective
Hungarian-Slovakian
”ethnic preferences”
Hungarian-Austrian
”gate to the European Union”
Hungarian-Slovenian, Hungarian-Croatian, Hungarian-Serbian
”role of borders in the socio-economic processes”
Hungarian-Ukrainian
Hungarian_Romanian
”social-economic peripheries”

Studies on borders and border regions in the Hungarian studies from a geographical aspect – a border perspective
Hungarian-Slovakian
”ethnic preferences”
Hungarian-Austrian
”gate to the European Union”
Hungarian-Slovenian, Hungarian-Croatian, Hungarian-Serbian
”role of borders in the socio-economic processes”
Hungarian-Ukrainian
Hungarian_Romanian
”social-economic peripheries”

Studies on borders and border regions in the Hungarian studies from a geographical aspect – a border perspective
Hungarian-Slovakian
”ethnic preferences”
Hungarian-Austrian
”gate to the European Union”
Hungarian-Slovenian, Hungarian-Croatian, Hungarian-Serbian
”role of borders in the socio-economic processes”
Hungarian-Ukrainian
Hungarian_Romanian
”social-economic peripheries”