New impulses for border regions: Polish expert teaches in Saarland!

New impulses for border regions: Polish expert teaches in Saarland!

In the summer semester of 2025, Saarland University will be enriched by an important expert in the field of border research: Elżbieta Opiłowska, a Polish sociologist and head of the Center for Regional and Borderlands Studies at the University of Wroclaw, has taken over the European visiting professorship. Her research interests include European identities and the dynamics of borders and border regions, making her an ideal candidate for this position. Their expertise is particularly relevant as borders have once again become the focus of research in recent years.

Opiłowska brings extensive experience, including through her previous visiting professorship at the UniGR Center for Border Studies in Luxembourg in 2021. Her current research also deals with the effects of crises on border regions, a topic that has become more explosive due to border closures during the Covid-19 pandemic. These experiences will be of great benefit to students at Saarland University.

Courses and public lectures

As part of her professorship, Opiłowska offers three courses that are accessible to students of all disciplines. The topics range from the similarities and differences of European societies to Euroscepticism and Euroenthusiasm. Professor Claudia Polzin-Haumann, Chair of the Cluster for European Studies (CEUS), highlights how important Opiłowska's expertise is for the university, while Florian Weber, Professor of European Studies, emphasizes that her focus on the East Central European context enriches the SaarLorLux region.

Of particular note is a public lecture by Opiłowska, which will take place on May 7th at 6 p.m. The title of the lecture is “Narratives of Europe in Times of Disruptions”. Here she will shed light on the challenges and dynamics arising from current geopolitical developments.

Dynamic border regions

According to current research, boundaries are dynamic phenomena that are constantly changing and have an impact on multiple levels. The European border region, which includes Saar-Lor-Lux, is an example of these developments. Depending on the political, economic and social situation, frictions and challenges can lead to rigid exclusion or to new forms of cooperation.

The Covid-19 pandemic has further intensified this change and made existing mobility and delivery bottlenecks visible. According to a draft from the European Parliament, border regions make up around 40% of the EU's territory and are home to 30% of the population, but they also pose significant economic challenges. The need for better exchange and cooperation in these regions is becoming increasingly urgent.

A new Interreg regulation for 2021-2027 is called for as a financial framework for cross-border cooperation. Initiatives such as the “Borderland Billion” aim to actively support the development of these regions. In addition, the EU initiative emphasizes the importance of language courses for border residents in order to break down intercultural barriers and strengthen social cohesion.

In view of these challenges, deeper analyzes of the socio-economic conditions are necessary in order to sustainably improve the quality of life in border regions. With her research, Elżbieta Opiłowska will not only contribute to the academic community of Saarland University, but will also provide important impetus for practice.