Seeing Europe from the Border : Research and Policy Insights on European Borderlands

There is the vision of “Europe without borders”, and the reality of “Europe with many borders”. In this edited volume perspectives on Europe are presented as seen from the borderlands. Landscapes, people and organizations at national borders constitute borderlands that differ from the national heartlands in respects that are both predictable and unpredictable. The collection of short essays captures some of the many ways seeing from the borderlands shapes how to think about Europe and how to plan and make policies that make sense for all. The texts are written by researchers and practitioners who have been involved in Borders Shaping Perceptions of European Societies (B-SHAPES), a Horizon Europe Research and Innovation Action project that analysed and assessed how borders are still a key factor in how we understand societies. Eight European universities, one research institute, a national museum, a foundation, a political association, a consultancy, and an art collective came together between April 2023 and March 2026 to examine borders in cooperation with Europeans living in border regions. The short essays comprise both professional insights and experiential reflections based on the project, with authors allowing themselves to be personal while remaining informed by their organisational roles. The volume contains texts that advocate for film and art informing research and policy, as well as texts that distil the key policy implications from different perspectives.