Border landscapes: a premilinary approach Roser Pastor Saberí. PhD Student. Department of Geography, University of Girona 1

2 Why geographers are interested in the boundaries? Because they mark the limits of political organisations, which change over the Earth’s surface.  Variations in political systems are often accompanied by variations (changes) in regulations concerning economic activity and the movement of people, goods and ideas.  The result of these variations are likely to be most clearly seen in the neighborhood of the boundary, if state functions are rigidly applied at the boundary or if the state combine to minimize the advers effects of the boundary upon the border inhabitants. 2

3 We are interested in... The way in which a boundary influence landscapes of the states on either side. For this reason it is meaningless to consider the boundary outside the context of the flanking state areas. This zone is termed: BORDER LANDSCAPE 3

4 Two approximations in the border studies Referring to the line: systemic approximation  Border  Boundary Referring to the influence zone: regional approximation  Frontier  Borderland 4

5 How the border can change the landscape of the borderland?

6 What is an state boundary? It’s an imaginary line It’s the limit of the sovereignty of one state It’s a political phenomena Four kinds of boundaries in relation to the demarcation process: Antecedents borders Subsequent borders Superimposed borders Natural borders 6

7 The functions of a border In a context of peace Legal Fiscal Control In a war context Military Ideological 7

8 The borderland The borderland is the region or area in a relative close proximity to the border within which the dynamics of change and daily life practices are affected by the very presence of the border. 8

9 How can be the effects of the border in the border landscape? Direct  the presence of the boundary Indirect  the juxtaposition of two political and economical systems Induced  secondary effects of the presence of the border 9

10 Aspects of border landscapes The consideration of a boundary as an element of the cultural landscape.  (direct effects) The extent to witch variations in landscape and land use on either side of a boundary can be explained by the proximity of two different political systems and the regulation which they have developed.  (indirect effects) The influence of the boundary’s presence and operation upon the attitudes of the border inhabitants and the economic developpement of the cross-border region.  (induceed effects) 10

11 1. Boundaries as a feature of the landscape Cliquez pour ajouter un texte Demarcated and maintained international boundaries USA - Canada border Israel - Egypt Border 11

12 1. Boundaries as a feature of the landscape Demarcated but neglected international boundaries → UE French Spanish border (Cerbère) German – Swiss border 12

13 1. Boundaries as a feature of a landscape Not demarcated international boundaries German Austrian border 13

14 2. Contrasting landscapes on opposite side of the boundary The population distribution The economic structures The roads and the railroads organization The urban and rural planning 14

15 2. Contrasting landscapes on opposite side of the boundary Differences between both sides of the boundary EEUU (San Diego) Mexico (tijuana) Haiti Dominican Republic 15

16 2. Contrasting landscapes on opposite side of the boundary Not apparently landscape differences on both sides of the boundary Bidasoa-Txingudi Bay; Hondarribia (ES), Irun (ES) and Hendaye (FR) 16

The boundary as an opportunity for some particular economical activities, especially if in the borderland we can find the roads and railroads that connects states The influence of the boundary upon the borders inhabitants and the economical activities Le PerthusComercial zone in La Jonquera 17

18 Nowadays boundaries in the UE The opening process border… How it could be affecting the landscape?? Some hypothesis… Abandonment of the direct landscapes elements as customs offices, fences… Maintenance of the differences between both sides of the boundaries because the cultural differences will be maintained Maintenance of the induced effects of the boundaries

19 Thank you four your attention! 5 mai 2014