Cross-border cooperation as a reconciliation tool: Example from the East Czech-Polish borders
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Date
2017
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Informa UK Limited
Abstract
Cross-border co-operation (CBC) is a prominent form of secondary foreign
policy, implemented by local/regional actors and serving as a tool for
overcoming the barriers arising from state borders. Many borders are areas of
former conflicts, including territory of Euroregion Tesin/Cieszyn Silesia. Our
goal is to analyse whether this Euroregion acts as a reconciliation tool. We
departed from a concept of secondary foreign policy and complemented that
by an overview of nationally led initiatives which could involve NCGs and
NGOs in reconciliation and followed by analysis of projects of the Euroregion
and interviews with CBC actors. We evidenced that CBC is a prominent form
of secondary foreign policy. It has a reconciliation function, as it has helped to
establish functional relationships and has contributed to diminishing the
negative pictures of neighbours. However, the research also reveals an
application of policies designed specifically to avoid critical issues, mainly
those related to history.
Description
Subject(s)
Secondary foreign policy, cross-border co-operation, non-central governments, Interreg, conflict and reconciliation
Citation
ISSN
1359-7566