Contemporary development of peripheral parts of the Czech-Polish borderland: Case study of the Javorník area

Abstract

Peripheral regions on the state border are among the most problematic areas of Czechia (the Czech Republic). The special case of the Javorník micro-region which is physically open to and historically anchored within Polish Lower Silesia was chosen as a study area. The question of possible substitution of a peripheral position in the national context by crossborder collaboration was posed, and it is shown that certain potential for this kind of collaboration exists, in the face of already-intensifying cross-border contacts, albeit with relations with Czech 'inland' areas remaining closer than the cross-border tendencies thus far.Keywords periphery • Czech-Polish borderland • rural development • Javorník

Cieszyn-Czeski Cieszyn - wybrane aspekty funkcjonowania miasta podzielonego na granicy polsko-czeskiej w kontekście transgranicznej mobilności mieszkańców

“…Dotyczy to zresztą całych regionów przygranicznych, powodując ich niedorozwój (Sohn, Lara-Valencia 2013, Vaishar i in. 2013).…”

Otwartość transgraniczna placówek usługowych w mieście podzielonym Gubin/Guben

“…Peryferyjne położenie miast granicznych z reguły ma negatywny wpływ na ich rozwój, dotyczy to zresztą całych regionów przygranicznych [Roper 2007;Vaishar i in. 2013].…”

Symmetry or asymmetry? Cross-border openness of service providers in Polish-Czech and Polish-German border towns

“…In this respect, some symmetry in the Polish-Czech border region can be observed in relation to encountered problems, such as joint mountainous regions, similar economic structures, processes of integration with the EU and tourism development (Pokluda, 2005;Vaishar et al, 2013). In the case of the Polish-German border region, historical, political and economic determinants result in dissimilarities to a much greater extent (Dołzbłasz, 2012).…”

“…The peripheral location of border cities generally has a negative effect on their development. In fact, it applies to entire border regions and contributes to their underdevelopment (Roper, 2007;Sohn and LaraValencia, 2013;Vaishar et al, 2013). In the situation of the reduction of formal barriers connected with the border and the occurrence of beneficial socio-economic determinants, however, the border location may be an impulse for the development of divided cities.…”