Different border regions are in focus in different WPs. It is B-SHAPES’ principle to understand borderlands as border-crossing, meaning that all research will involve both sides of the border and have a cross-border perspective. Geographically, we have decided not to follow administrative boundaries to define (cross-) border regions but adopt a delimitation of the borderlands in question defined by their practical relevance to the agents involved in each case study.

The cross-cutting WP results will represent a situated people’s perspective of borders shaping perceptions of European societies. The obtained knowledge will inform us in new ways about how borders are a key factor shaping perceptions of European society, to be integrated in policy recommendations to create a more inclusive approach to borderlands, borderlands heritage and hereby also European integration.

The map above shows the case study border regions selected for B-SHAPES. Apart from representing the research foci of each empirical WP, the regions were chosen to include a variety of geographies, including EU-15 border regions prior to the 2004 enlargement, borders between EU-15 member states and EU-27 member states and third countries located at the external border of the EU.