Abstract

KOFF, Harlan. Political Power and Border Politics in Europe: The Utility of Comparing Internal and External Borders of the European Union. Estud. Polit. [online]. 2008, n.32, pp.195-226. ISSN 0121-5167.

Even though the European Union has successfully promoted internal crossborder cooperation, this article argues that its programs do not necessarily accomplish their declared objectives. The author contends that one of the weaknesses of the current literature on European borders is that scholars often present the presence of cross-border policies as an indicator of integration without examining their impact on local cross-border communities. True integration, in fact, is not only a product of ''top-down'' European policies, but it also depends on power relationships within local communities. In areas where these cross-border relationships are symmetrical, then integration occurs in real terms, even when structural conditions are less advantageous. When cross-border power relationships are asymmetrical, then integration programs often achieve limited success even in the presence of positive. Thus, this article contends that informal power affects economic and political integration more than formal power. In order to illustrate these points, this article examines the impact of regional integration programs on two cross-border cases: the Eurométropole that encompasses Northern France and Southern Belgium, and Bari-Italy-Durres, Albania.

Keywords : Border Integration; Economic Integration; Political Integration; European Union.

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