Territoriality and topocracy of cross-border networks

Abstract

Typically, border regions are peripheral and their infrastructure is frequently underdeveloped. The European Union, states and subnational actors are involved in cross-border cooperation. I argue that territoriality and governmentality are part of cross-border activities in Europe. Many topocratic cross-border networks launch projects mainly to achieve funding for networking. This is studied with three cases: EUREGIO Karelia, EUREGIO Helsinki-Tallinn, and ESTRUFIN networks. EU co-funding is important for cross-border networks, but state authorities control the activities, and the involvement of non-governmental organizations and local people is limited. Cross-border cooperation is European designed, state controlled, and public authority driven.