Territorial border practices. Praxeologising of the border - the example of cross-border cooperation

In short

This is a PhD project that is being conducted as part of a dual doctoral studies programme at the Universities of Trier and Luxembourg (2017-2021). The topic is contemporary state borders, which are conceptualised from the perspective of sociological practice theory and analysed through the example of a case of cross-border cooperation in Europe. The key issues considered are how borders can be understood as practices and according to what practical logic borders are drawn up.

Issues and themes

Border Studies are increasingly analysing territorial borders as dynamic processes.  And yet the research field faces the challenge of finding the appropriate terminology and theoretical concepts. Although the practical concepts are already in use, so far the sociological practice theories in the field have remained largely ignored.

Sociological practice theories have developed the key assumptions and concepts that make social phenomena visible as observable processes and procedures. Here borders are not seen as an existing reality, but as something that must be continually reproduced. The practices involved in the production of borders can be examined in terms of their symbolic, physical, material or temporary aspects. The "doing border" is a dynamic process that generates regularities according to practical logics.

These practical logics that apply to the making of borders are analysed through the example of a case of cross-border cooperation in Europe.

Milestones

• "Transforming borders in Europe. Concepts and spatial planning practices", 2017, talk
• "Grenzüberschreitende Zusammenarbeit als Praxisformation. Perspektiven für eine alternative Kooperationsforschung" (Cross-border cooperation as practice formation. Perspectives for alternative cooperative research), 2017, talk with Christian Wille
• "Im Feld der Praxistheorien. Zwischen Ontologie und Methodologie" (In the field of practice theory. Between ontology and methodology), 2018, talk
• "Border" or "bordering practice"? Changing perspectives on borders and praxeological approaches", 2018, talk
• "Cross-border cooperation as practice formation. Perspectives for an alternative research approach", in Transdisciplinary discourses on cross-border cooperation in Europe, 2019, Peter Lang

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