Boundaries From Borders: Cross-Border Relationships in the Context of the Mental Perception of a Borderline – Experiences from Spanish-French and Polish-German Border Twin Towns

Abstract

MARKUSZEWSKA I., TANSKANEN M., VILA SUBIRÓS J., 2016. boundaries from borders: Cross-border relationships in the context of the mental perception of a borderline -experiences from spanish-French and polish-German border twin towns. Quaestiones Geographicae 35(1), Bogucki Wydawnictwo Naukowe, Poznań, pp. 105-119, 1 fi g., 1 table.ABSTRACT: In this paper, the borderlands, in the context of the psychological perception of frontiers, were presented. The common relationships between different nationalities living in border twin towns was a principal point of analysis. During the investigation two main research questions were asked: Is a frontier a barrier or a bridge in the common relationships between nationalities living on both sides of the borderline? and Does the trans-border casual social integration stimulate openness to neighbours? The study was conducted in two double towns: la Jonquera (els límits) -Le Perthus at the Spanish-French border and Słubice -Frankfurt-am-Oder at the Polish-German border. The data were gathered from surveys by questioning locals and visitors during street polling. The design of the questionnaire included three main groups of questions relating to: 1) the perception of the borderline and the role of the border twin towns, 2) the attitude towards neighbours and identifi cation with the borderlands, and 3) the future of the borderline in the context of the twin towns existence and cross-border linkages. The results showed that the historical circumstances and cultural background play a crucial role in the current bilateral interrelations between nations sharing the common space of the twin towns. These two aspects of the borderland have an infl uence on the psychological perception of the border that creates mental boundaries in local societies. however, as the results proved, the necessity of living together pushed locals to be more open-minded, which as a consequence supported the establishment of social bonds.

New Ways to Learn Geography – Challenges of the 21st Century

“…In addition to this, the Intensive Projects offered an opportunity to meet each other, to discuss landscape questions, to plan forthcoming cooperation and familiarise with local culture and society. The course continued and strengthened the cooperation between all three universities and pointed out some new research opportunities with the partner organisations of the course (Markuszewska et al 2016). Finally, several tentative research ideas had been revealed and some partner organisations have had roles in next Erasmus+ Project: In a Way Towards a Low Carbon Society -Increasing professionalism in land use and landscape management within climate change, based on learning by doing method as well.…”

“…More information about the social and cultural aspects of borderlands can be found in the paper by Markuszewska et al 2016. Additionally, the following figures (Figs 2-4) provide more statistical data on how the students felt about a new approach to learning.…”

Exploring Determinants of ‘Mental Distance’ in Cross‐Border Contexts

“…Furthermore, qualitative research is apt to explore additional determinants of mental distance that are less tangible and measurable, such as personality‐related psychological factors, as elaborated on by Markuszewksa et al . (2016) and van Houtum (1999), or cultural similarities.…”

“…the Czech–Slovakian or French–Spanish border regions) share similar historical roots and associated cultures (Boman & Berg 2007; Dumetz & Gáboríková 2016; Markuszewska et al . 2016; Ogrodnik 2017). Based on this argumentation, one can strongly assume that institutional features (language and culture) potentially shape the extent to which mental distance unfolds power.…”

Pogranicze w życiu jednostki i grup społecznych – fakty i kontrowersje

“…Badania innych bliźniaczych miast: hiszpańskiego Els Limits i francuskiego Le Perthus wskazują z jednej strony negatywy tej sytuacji, które mogą zmieniać obraz sąsiadów (wzrost bezrobocia czy przemyt narkotyków i większe niż wcześniej poczucie niebezpieczeństwa), lecz z drugiej mieszkańcy obu miejscowości cenią rozwój budownictwa i sieci handlowej, możliwość robienia korzystnych zakupów, ale nade wszystko wolność swobodnego przemieszczania się (choć Hiszpanie odwiedzali stronę francuską rzadko, a 5% z nich -nigdy!) (Markuszewska, Tanskanen i Subirós, 2016). Trzeba jednocześnie zgodzić się z twierdzeniem Pawła Boskiego, że "hipoteza kontaktu nigdy nie przybrała wersji kulturowej" (Boski, 2009, s. 501), co wyraża się także w stałej słabości programów treningów ukierunkowanych na zmiany w relacjach międzykulturowych.…”