La transition dans les régions frontalières germano-tchèques : des laboratoires sociaux

Abstract

The Germano-Czech frontier regions, social laboratories of transition. The current period of transition affords an exceptional opportunity for looking at the development of the old East- West frontier and the regions which lie along it, and for studying the synergies that are being established, particularly between the Czechs and the Germans. In the Czech republic, the systemic and economic restructuring of the frontier regions, conditioned by the very particular characteristics of these areas, is a case in point. At regional and local level, it throws up challenges and new problems, but at the same time hitherto unheard of opportunities. Since every aspect of life on one side of the border is as intensely felt on the other, the present article is concerned with studying the behaviour patterns of the inhabitants of the frontier regions, in order to identify new structures of regional imbrication, as well as the many forms which interaction assumes. Three categories of cross-frontier activities are successively examined : cross-frontier movement of private individuals and households, inter-enterprise co-operation, and socio-political and cultural synergies. The results of the studies carried out in the area provide the first findings on the new types of connections which are being made, and on the influence of the German neighbour as a factor either for activating or inhibiting the development of the Czech partner.