Steen Bo Frandsen
Fonction
Professor
Organisation
Syddansk Universitet
Lien université
Centre for Border Region Studies an der Universität Süddänemark in Sønderborg
Centre for Border Region Studies an der Universität Süddänemark in Sønderborg
Border Region
European cross-border regions
Language(s)
Anglais
Main Category
Introduction
The Centre for Border Region Studies in the University of Southern Denmark, in Sønderborg, carried out interdisciplinary work on cross-border regions in Europe, with a specific focus on Denmark and Germany.
Summary
The Centre for Border Region Studies in the University of Southern Denmark, in Sønderborg (founded in 2016, based on a research tradition dating back to 1976), links the Faculty of Human Sciences and the Faculty of Social and Economic Sciences for interdisciplinary and comparative research work using qualitative methods. Specifically, the disciplines represented for research in the field of European cross-border regions are anthropology, geography, history and political sciences.
The research themes are structured using four fields as indicated by the Centre for Border Region Studies:
- The role and developing functions of borders and cross-border regions
- Current cross-border European regions: conflicts and cooperation
- The role of (cross-border) regions and of the European Union
- Minorities in European cross-border regions
Content
The thematic field devoted to the “Changing role of border and cross-border region functions” particularly focuses on the evolution of European borders with regard to border control modifications, the fall of the Iron Curtain and the enlargement of the EU. The field “Contemporary cross-border borders: conflicts and cooperation” analyses various parties involved in European integration near the internal and external borders of the EU, their method of governance and their influence on the cooperative or contentious development of cross-border regions. As for the thematic field pertaining to the “Role of (cross-border) regions and of the European Union”, it focuses on analysing narratives and evolutions on a regional level. A special focus developed from the 1970s in Sønderborg is represented by the research pertaining to the German minority in the cross-border region between Denmark and Germany; it highlights the regional footing of the Centre for Border Region Studies, which is one of the missions of the centre.
The Centre for Border Region Studies takes part in several large projects (e.g. “Borders In Globalization”; COST „European Non-Territorial Autonomy Network”).
Furthermore, the Centre for Border Region Studies regularly organises international conferences (e.g. BRIT), as well as seminars or workshops on the theme of border studies, and its members take part in many international events (e.g. ABS, BIG). Its activities include contributions for publications such as Geopolitics, Journal of Borderlands Studies, Nordic Journal of Migration Research as well as numerous books.
Moreover, the Centre offers an English language bachelor’s degree curriculum in ”European studies”.
Conclusions
The Centre for Border Region Studies in Sønderborg is a regionally-based research centre which carries out research work in the field of cross-border regions with an interdisciplinary, comparative and qualitative approach.
Lead
The Centre for Border Region Studies in Sønderborg is tasked with carrying out research work on European cross-border regions with an interdisciplinary, comparative and qualitative approach.
Contributions
The Centre for Border Region Studies currently features two professorships, 6 associate professors as well as collaborators holding the rank of lecturers and PhD students.
Contact Person(s)
Date of creation
2019