Cross-border cooperation in theory and practice in the case of Czehc - German borderland =Přeshraniční spolupráce v teorii a praxi - případ česko-německého pohraničí

Abstract

Contemporary literature on subject of borders and cross-border cooperation (CBC) as factor of continuing European integration offers only limited coherent theoretical approach that can explain rather than describe the complexities of transboundary networking of social and economic systems of neighbouring states. Most of existing research is aimed on description of CBC instruments giving up explanation of social processes initiated by geographical proximity with continually creating cross-border community. Euroregions on border of Poland, Czech Republic and Germany were chosen as the units of analysis where specific activities (formal and informal) help generate a "social capital" (among others trust) creating conditio sinne qua non dynamic development of local communities as direct consequence of European integration on both local and regional levels. Dynamism of cross-border linking is apparently limited by the three factors: language, mentalities and economic disparity/asymmetry. The case study is dealing with specific situation within the euroregion Krušné hory/Erzgebirge