Cross-Border Networks in Informal and Formal Cooperation in the Border Regions Andalusia–Algarve–Alentejo and South Finland–Estonia

Abstract

Fostering border relations among the people in border regions seems a precondition for the future envisagement and success of cross-border regions and European Integration. Related studies to border relations observe the weakness of these informal border contacts and relations. However, weak ties represent an opportunity for interaction, and little has been said about how they might play in the construction and performance of institutional cross-border cooperation (CBC). In this work, we examine the nature of personal border networks of professionals working in CBC and how they are interconnected with the institutional CBC. This paper is based on a mainly qualitative research of two different border regions: Andalusia, Algarve and Alentejo (AAA) and South Finland and Estonia (SFE). Nevertheless, the methodology is multi-method, using semi-structured interviews, with specific questions for applying a social network analysis. Conclusions point out different patterns of border relations in both border regions. In AAA, most of the cross-border relations are weaker and related to their professional involvement in institutional CBC. In SFE, border relations rely both on working and personal reasons. All of these cross-border relations imply a significant value as opportunities for social capital construction across the borders and, hence, for greater interaction and cross-border integration.

Acknowledgements

Primary data used in this paper are part of the Teresa González-Gómez Doctoral Thesis in process, titled “Social Capital Applied to Cross-border Cooperation: A Comparative study of two border regions”, supervised by Estrella Gualda, and supported by the Regional Ministry of Innovation, Science and Enterprise (Government of Andalusia, Spain) granting one of the co-authors with a Pre-doctoral Scholarship. This paper has also been partially supported by the ESEIS, Social Studies and Social Intervention Research Centre (University of Huelva, Spain, www.eseis.es), by the Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT, Portugal) and the Centre for Spatial and Organizational Dynamics (CIEO, University of Algarve, Portugal, www.cieo.pt). At the same time, this work is partially integrated in the project “Territorial Analysis and Cross-border Cooperation of Euroregion Alentejo–Algarve–Andalusia: Historical balance and potentialities for the new European period/frame 2014–2020”, University of Huelva. Research project of Excellence (Call 2011). Financed by the Regional Ministry of Economy, Innovation and Science, Secretary of Universities, Research and Technology, Andalusia (Government of Andalusia, Spain).

Notes

Name generator: A measurement technique based on reporting a list of people with whom the respondent maintains relations—ego ties with alters—and the relations among them—relations among alters (Lin, 2008).

The territorial reference of regions is based on Interreg Programmes NUTS III that corresponds with the delimitation of AAA, administrative regions in Portugal and Spain. In the case of Finland and Estonia, Interreg territorial delimitation use Estonia and South Finland that comprises different counties in the south of Finland (see http://www.centralbaltic.eu/). However, most of all interviewees belong to the programme eligible areas. In this research, a difference between the northern part of Estonia based on Harju county and the rest of the country was considered useful, as most of the experts and population in Estonia are concentrated in this county.

By “border contact” we refer here to relationships with people from the neighbouring country.

The local administrative division in Portugal is structured in two levels. The “Conselho” is the most important local division. The Conselho has subdivisions named “Freguesias” which are the lowest level of local administration in Portugal (Fragoso, 2008).