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The COVID-19 pandemic, as an external factor, quite strongly disrupted the existing trends in the evolution of employment in the Polish-German borderland. The objective of the article is to analyse how resilient Polish and German municipalities are to the COVID-19 pandemic. Border regions, due to their specificities, are characterized by weaker resilience to negative external factors, which meant that the COVID-19 pandemic had a detrimental effect and caused an upturn in unemployment. The empirical part of the study concerns the Polish-German borderland as a clear example of the described tendencies. The study uses the counterfactual before-after comparison method. The novelty in this approach to the study of this hypothetical rate of unemployment involves filling the gap in the literature regarding research of cross border regions, while also developing the existing approaches in the research method used. The results of the survey indicate that the unemployment rate in the Polish-German borderland area has risen (after and due to the pandemic). There are some major differences in how the pandemic has impacted the labour market. Considering the counterfactual approach used, this difference can be described as the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The COVID-19 pandemic quite strongly disrupted the existing trends in the evolution of employment in the Polish-German borderland. The objective of the article is to analyse how resilient Polish and German municipalities are to the COVID-19 pandemic. Border regions, due to their specificities, are characterized by weaker resilience to negative external factors, which meant that the COVID-19 pandemic had a detrimental effect and caused an upturn in unemployment. The empirical part of the study concerns the Polish-German borderland as a clear example of the described tendencies. The research method used in the study is the counterfactual before-after comparison method, which fills the gap in the literature regarding research of cross border regions and develops the existing approaches. This approach is novel in studying the hypothetical rate of unemployment. The results of the survey indicate that the unemployment rate in the Polish-German borderland area has risen (after and due to the pandemic There are significant differences in how the pandemic has affected the labor market. Utilizing the counterfactual approach, this difference can be described as the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the labor market [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents the cultural history of the term „post-German”. This approach goes beyond linguistic analysis – apart from the dictionary meanings of the word, the author presents the history of changes in its meaning since the Second World War. The word appeared at the end of the war and was almost immediately included in the political context and was subject to censorship restrictions in connection with the ideology of the eternally Polish Regained Lands in force in the new Polish post-war territories. The category of „post-German” gained a special role in literature after the cultural breakthrough of 1989 in the trend of „small homelands”, which was also inspired by the German critical Heimatliteratur. It also meant a specific theme, the creation of the depicted world and a narrative perspective in this type of literature, unique compared to other national literatures.

An Anthropological Portrayal of the Native Inhabitants of the Polish-German Borderland Born Before 1945 The article presents the results of field research carried out among the native inhabitants of the Lubusz Voivodship who were born in the former eastern territory of the then German state before 1945. Between 2009 and 2011, the authors conducted in-depth anthropological interviews with 28 informants in 17 localities in the Voivodship. These informants are the last remaining representatives of the former populace in this area, since the majority of the local inhabitants left Poland: some were evacuated or fled in the face of the advancing Red Army in 1945, others were victims of the so-called “wild” expulsions as well as resettlements, and still others emigrated under family reunification programs. One more factor was economic emigration, which has continued up to the present day. Thus, those inhabitants who remained are the last witnesses to the history of life experiences which began here already in pre-World War II times. This makes them special as they have a unique sense of rootedness in the region, unlike other inhabitants, who are newcomers there. The external identity of the interviewees, that is, the identity given to them by others, is often different from their internal, subjective identity, which is felt and expressed in narratives. In the period following World War II the native populace was termed “autochtons”. The category of “autochton” was constructed from the outside, taking into consideration only elements of Polish culture, and completely ignored any ties with German culture. The presence of the “autochtons” officially served the purpose of legitimizing the so-called “recovered territories”, that is, the territories incorporated into Poland in 1945. On the other hand, the autochtons were ascribed a German identity by new settlers who arrived in the Lubusz land from different regions of Poland, and who labeled the locals “Germans” or “Nazis”. The internal identity of the interviewees is characterized by Polish-German cultural bivalence, which shows most of all in their active bilingualism and often in denominational conversions or bivalent (Catholic-Evangelical) faith as well as a lack of a univocal acceptance of just one national option.

From the moment academics began to reflect on the divided towns of the Polish-German border their investigations were directed to such phenomena as cooperation, closer relations, unification, connection, integration, becoming similar, and overcoming barriers, as is clearly observable in the publications that emerged in the 1970s, the period of the first post-war opening of the Polish-German border for passport-free traffic. This article addresses the validity and usefulness of such a perspective on divided towns. Do the researchers not tacitly yield to the conviction that integration is the only reasonable destiny for divided towns and does this conviction not tend to be based on a theory of horizontal Europeanization? Should opposing, or at least slightly different scenarios, not be considered? While searching to answer these questions and attempting to dispel doubts the author makes use of empirical studies conducted in the Polish-German borderland. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, the borderlands, in the context of the psychological perception of frontiers, were presented. The common relationships between different nationalities living in border twin towns was a principal point of analysis. During the investigation two main research questions were asked: Is a frontier a barrier or a bridge in the common relationships between nationalities living on both sides of the borderline? and Does the trans-border casual social integration stimulate openness to neighbours? The study was conducted in two double towns: la Jonquera (Els límits) - Le Perthus at the Spanish-French border and Słubice - Frankfurt-am-Oder at the Polish-German border. The data were gathered from surveys by questioning locals and visitors during street polling. The design of the questionnaire included three main groups of questions relating to: 1) the perception of the borderline and the role of the border twin towns, 2) the attitude towards neighbours and identification with the borderlands, and 3) the future of the borderline in the context of the twin towns existence and cross-border linkages. The results showed that the historical circumstances and cultural background play a crucial role in the current bilateral interrelations between nations sharing the common space of the twin towns. These two aspects of the borderland have an influence on the psychological perception of the border that creates mental boundaries in local societies. However, as the results proved, the necessity of living together pushed locals to be more open-minded, which as a consequence supported the establishment of social bonds.

The form of transborder interactions depends inter alia on trust and the convergence of values among neighbouring societies. In addition, cooperation is fostered by the similarity of language and a long history of cross-border contacts and collaboration. The Polish-German borderland emerged as a consequence of border treaties after World War II, and so is an example of a new neighbourhood, because both sides of the border are inhabited by people who settled there after 1945. There is a significant cultural distance between Poles and Germans. In this article we deal with the question of the perception of Germans by Poles – the attributes that are ascribed to them by the inhabitants of Zgorzelec, Gubin and Słubice. Are the (spatially) closest neighbours still divided by mental barriers? Are Germans judged by stereotypes? Or maybe, as a consequence of the widely undertaken transborder practices, these barriers have been done away with or their importance is diminishing, and with them the distance between Poles and Germans in twin towns?

In this article, we deal with the specifics of the Polish-German borderland based on the example of Słubice and Frankfurt-Oder. Both Germany’s position in Europe as well as Poland’s geopolitical orientation after 1989 have had an impact on the shape of social relations in the borderland under question. In this article, we apply selected categories from the scope of social geography together with an analysis of sociological empirical results. We conclude that experiencing the space as well as the valorization of German urban and natural elements – both typical of the humanistic coefficient – coexist with the competences of the residents of Słubice: that of communication (using the German language) and interaction (having German friends). In divided towns, opinions about neighbours are hard to modify under the influence of the events taking place far away from the immediate neighbourhood. This has to do with “borderland effect”, i.e. more frequent and more intensive contacts with the neighbours from across the river. Frankfurters are characterized by the residents of Słubice as “punctual”, “complying with regulations”, “outgoing” and “sociable”. Liking (generally speaking) of Germans coexists here with such categories of experiencing, important for social geographers, as space, a piece of land, natural landscape, urban landscape, bridge, border, river’s width, type of banks, distance between the developed land and the river itself, distance from the state border to particularly attractive sites (e.g. the Old Town, bars and restaurants), and the aesthetics of the surrounding.

Cross-border economic relations are analysed by many researchers. However, the concepts of cross-border cooperation illustrated in the literature of regional studies do not present the EU market as a factor of cross-border economic relations. In consequence, it is necessary to carry out an in-depth analysis of the literature on cross-border cooperation and economic integration in order to capture the impact of the single market on cross-border relations. The aim of this study is to describe cross-border cooperation in the Polish-German border area, taking into account the economics of the single market. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Research Papers of the Wroclaw University of Economics / Prace Naukowe Uniwersytetu Ekonomicznego we Wroclawiu is the property of Uniwersytet Ekonomiczny we Wroclawiu and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The objective of the study was to analyse the transborder relationships of co-operation and competition among economic entities operating in the Polish-German borderland. The analysis concentrated primarily on the internationalisation of economic activity, the perceived strength of co-operation, the actual competitive pressure, and the identification of the dominant character of transborder relationships. The analysis was conducted in the Polish-German borderland in 2011. The study was based on a questionnaire survey (600 firms: 300 on the Polish side and 300 on the German side of the border). The research revealed that the predominant type of relationship among companies was that of co-operation. However, the perceived importance of transborder relationships was generally low. Moreover, it can be stated that the vast majority of the businesses were operating without considering the context of the border. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article, we deal with the specifics of the Polish-German borderland based on the example of Słubice and Frankfurt-Oder. Both Germany's position in Europe as well as Poland's geopolitical orientation after 1989 have had an impact on the shape of social relations in the borderland under question. In this article, we apply selected categories from the scope of social geography together with an analysis of sociological empirical results. We conclude that experiencing the space as well as the valorization of German urban and natural elements - both typical of the humanistic coefficient - coexist with the competences of the residents of Słubice: that of communication (using the German language) and interaction (having German friends). In divided towns, opinions about neighbours are hard to modify under the influence of the events taking place far away from the immediate neighbourhood. This has to do with "borderland effect", i.e. more frequent and more intensive contacts with the neighbours from across the river. Frankfurters are characterized by the residents of Słubice as "punctual", "complying with regulations", "outgoing" and "sociable". Liking (generally speaking) of Germans coexists here with such categories of experiencing, important for social geographers, as space, a piece of land, natural landscape, urban landscape, bridge, border, river's width, type of banks, distance between the developed land and the river itself, distance from the state border to particularly attractive sites (e.g. the Old Town, bars and restaurants), and the aesthetics of the surrounding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The form of transborder interactions depends inter alia on trust and the convergence of values among neighbouring societies. In addition, cooperation is fostered by the similarity of language and a long history of cross-border contacts and collaboration. The Polish-German borderland emerged as a consequence of border treaties after World War II, and so is an example of a new neighbourhood, because both sides of the border are inhabited by people who settled there after 1945. There is a significant cultural distance between Poles and Germans. In this article we deal with the question of the perception of Germans by Poles - the attributes that are ascribed to them by the inhabitants of Zgorzelec, Gubin and Słubice. Are the (spatially) closest neighbours still divided by mental barriers? Are Germans judged by stereotypes? Or maybe, as a consequence of the widely undertaken transborder practices, these barriers have been done away with or their importance is diminishing, and with them the distance between Poles and Germans in twin towns? [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Research Papers of the Wroclaw University of Economics / Prace Naukowe Uniwersytetu Ekonomicznego we Wroclawiu is the property of Uniwersytet Ekonomiczny we Wroclawiu and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Research Papers of the Wroclaw University of Economics / Prace Naukowe Uniwersytetu Ekonomicznego we Wroclawiu is the property of Uniwersytet Ekonomiczny we Wroclawiu and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The paper focuses on the question whether the former Polish-German border along the Piasnica River in Northern Kashubia is also a 'long-term-duration' border. The old border, although no longer on the political map after 1945, still exists in the collective memory of the inhabitants of the former borderland. The 'phantom border' is tangible in material memorials and in language use. A particular case is the social memory of the inhabitants of the village Nadole, which was a Polish enclave on the German side of Lake Żarnowieckie between 1920-1939. The paper presents results of research on this memory conducted through text analysis of historical sources and ethnographic interviews with the local people. A local myth of the 'hero's journey' plays an important role for the construction of the social memory of Nadole. Various Kashubian political activists can be cast as the hero. Until today the memory of the interwar period has been the basis of the image of 'Us' and 'the Others'. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the study was to analyze selected elements of competitiveness and local development in the Polish-German borderland. The analysis was based on the questionnaire survey conducted among Polish and German local self-governments in 2003 and 2011 in the border area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents results of research into the media portrayal of events in Frankfurt in 1995, as presented in local and national press in Germany and Poland. This research relied on a qualitative analysis of the text. According to the research results, German press coverage took a more balanced approach, whereas its Polish counterpart often appeared to rely more on emotional appeals based on historical events. This research complements a broader body of inquiry into the role of media in international communication, with particular emphasis on the cooperation between Polish and German journalists. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT The aim of this study was to research transborder openness of companies in the divided city Zgorzelec/Görlitz on the Polish-German border in the context of the advancement of integration processes on a local scale. The analysis has been done from the point of view of the everyday life of its inhabitants. Polish and German economic entities providing chosen services were researched. The study aimed to show the level of openness of these institutions to clients from the other side of the border. The integration of business landscapes may lead to the formation of a common public space and strong functional connections between two parts of the divided city. Analysis has shown a significantly varying level of openness of companies depending on the type of activity. Moreover, an asymmetry was observed in the scope of the influence of Polish and German business landscape. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]