The nature of borders is to change their functions, which are shaped by historical events, political powers, and social and cultural forces. Therefore, borders are continuously being negotiated. The aim of this volume is to provide a selected state-of-the-art review of current research in the field of European borderlands studies. It presents a multidisciplinary perspective, ranging from the historical, political and social to the geographical aspects of borders. It reassesses the role of borders in Europe from an empirical and conceptual perspective. We take stock of research achievements and assess their fruitfulness for future research questions in the light of current political as well as academic developments. The volume provides a broad overview of current debates and the field’s most recent findings, but also contributes reflections on the wealth and shortcomings of this field of study at the beginning of a new age of defining national borders.
