Active Borders in Europe: Identity and Collective Memory in the Cross-Border Space

This book explores how identities, public spheres and collective memories are being transformed in cross-border areas, contributing to the broad sociological context of Europeanization. Offering case studies on the German-Czech-Austrian, and Czech-Polish-German borderlands, the book introduces original primary data on cross-border cooperation. This data is interpreted using the concept of active borders, which approaches borders as a source of multicultural competence and cognitive capacity. In turn, the authors argue that Europeans need to treat borders, both territorial and symbolic, as specific cultural forms. Active borders allow an unprecedented level of cross-border cooperation and integration, and foster a better understanding of differences, rather than re-embedding them or constructing others. Accordingly, the authors contend that active borders promote more dynamic, open and resilient societies, and represent crucial prerequisites for the success of the European integration project

Chapter 1. Introduction: Euroregions, active borders and Europeanisation -- Chapter 2. Active Borders and the Europeanisation of the Public Sphere. How the Same Can Be Different and vice versa -- Chapter 3. Borders and Identity. The Place Where Europe Lives! -- Chapter 4. Borders and Language. Minor Misunderstandings, Big Troubles and the Fruits of Multilingualism -- Chapter 5. Borders and Memory. From Historical Roots to Dialogical-Like Routes -- Chapter 6. Conclusion or I ja za tobą Polak.

Intro -- Prologue: Identities-Memories-Languages-Borders -- Contents -- Introduction: Euroregions, Active Borders, and Europeanization -- 1 Why Nisa and Šumava Euroregions? -- 2 Structure and Methodology -- Active Borders and the Europeanization of the Public Sphere: How the Same Can Be Different and Vice Versa -- 1 Forms, Functions, and Changing Borders -- 2 Active Borders, Collective Identities, and Cultural Encounters -- 3 Active Borders and Positive Identities -- 4 Active Border, Our Unknown, and Civic Learning-Towards Democratic Integration -- 5 Active Borders, European Public Sphere, and Illustrative Support -- 6 Distinctioning Without Distanciating (Summary) -- Borders and Identity. The Place Where Europe Lives! -- 1 Demarcation of Surveyed Area, Data Sources, and Research Methodology -- 2 Borders in Perception of Key Actors of Cross-border Cooperation -- 3 Cross-border Cooperation and Typology of Mayors -- 3.1 Passive Pessimists (Cluster 1) -- 3.2 Passive Optimists (Cluster 2) -- 3.3 Active Optimists (Cluster 3) -- 3.4 Pragmatic Pessimists (Cluster 4) -- 4 Identity of Mayors as Key Prerequisite for Active Borders -- 4.1 The Roads to Europe Lead Across Borders: Summary -- Borders and Language. Minor Misunderstandings, Big Troubles, and the Fruits of Multilingualism -- 1 Demand for European Citizenship, or Zoon Politikon and Art of Agreement -- 2 Linguistic Asymmetry, or Why Germans Should also Move a Little Towards the Other Side -- 3 Language Killer, or How to Get Along with Your Neighbors -- 4 Europeanization of Homeland and Living World -- 5 Language Immersion-A Lot Can Be Achieved Through Children -- 6 Best Practices in Education of Language and Culture of Neighbors -- 6.1 Saxony Regional Office for Early Childhood Education in Neighboring Languages (LaNa) -- 6.2 Schkola -- 6.3 Bavaria: Gastschuljahr and Sprachkompetenzzentrum.

Chapter 1. Introduction: Euroregions, active borders and Europeanisation -- Chapter 2. Active Borders and the Europeanisation of the Public Sphere. How the Same Can Be Different and vice versa -- Chapter 3. Borders and Identity. The Place Where Europe Lives! -- Chapter 4. Borders and Language. Minor Misunderstandings, Big Troubles and the Fruits of Multilingualism -- Chapter 5. Borders and Memory. From Historical Roots to Dialogical-Like Routes -- Chapter 6. Conclusion or I ja za tobą Polak.