Cross-border cooperation as a reconciliation tool: Example from the East Czech-Polish borders

This article forms part of a Special Issue of this journal: Secondary Foreign policy – local international relations: can local cross border cooperation function as a tool to peace-building and reconciliation in border regions?

Abstract:

Cross-border co-operation (CBC) is a prominent form of secondary foreign policy, implemented by local/regional actors and serving as a tool for overcoming the barriers arising from state borders. Many borders are areas of former conflicts, including territory of Euroregion Tesin/Cieszyn Silesia.

Our goal is to analyse whether this Euroregion acts as a reconciliation tool. We departed from a concept of secondary foreign policy and complemented that by an overview of nationally led initiatives which could involve NCGs and NGOs in reconciliation and followed by analysis of projects of the Euroregion and interviews with CBC actors. We evidenced that CBC is a prominent form of secondary foreign policy.

It has a reconciliation function, as it has helped to establish functional relationships and has contributed to diminishing the negative pictures of neighbours. However, the research also reveals an application of policies designed specifically to avoid critical issues, mainly those related to history.