Immerhin eine Grenze ... Das polnisch-litauische Grenzgebiet: von sozialistischer Bruderschaft bis Schengen

ENThe mutual links of the population in the border region between Poland and Lithuania have not yet been sufficiently examined. The Polish and Lithuanian authors seem to focus more on the interethnic relations and mutual perception of the Poles and Lithuanians, be it within the same state or over the border. More detailed studies related to the borderland itself, especially those examining the situation on the both sides of the border, are rather scarce. The following case study presents the Polish-Lithuanian borderland as an example of how the legacy of a closed border regime may hamper the cross-border contacts even after eliminating all formal barriers and despite the favourable topography of the border (i.e. no natural obstacles such as rivers or mountains). The study begins with a presentation of the Polish-Lithuanian borderland on the basis of statistical data, including the ethnic composition, followed by a historical overview and description of the border regime between the former Soviet Union and its satellite state, the Polish People’s Republic. The next part is dedicated to the development of the border regime and the cross-border contacts of the population within the last two decades. Special focus is granted to the following issues: cross-border shopping, infrastructure, transports, co-operation of the local authorities, cultural exchange. Some unused potential for possible cooperation will also be shown, i.e. some “bridges” in the broad sense which can be identified in many other border regions given the same grade of border openness (given the Schengen area as bench mark), and which are still missing in the Polish-Lithuanian borderland. Keywords: Lithuanian-Polish border, Lithuania, Poland, border contacts, Schengen Area, borders in Eastern Europe. [From the publication]

• Politikos mokslai / Political sciences
• Istorija / History