Grenzregionen in der COVID-19-Pandemie: Wie der „Grenzschock“ die Oberrheinregion veränderte

Taking the trinational Upper Rhine region as an example, this article explores the ways in which the border closures implemented in the course of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 and the associated border experiences have affected cross-border relations of local actors in politics, economy, and society. Using qualitative interview data, we show how this pandemic-related “border shock” was received and how cross-border political and social cohesion was put to the test, but also how cooperation was able to adapt to the new situation after a period of confusion. At the same time, cross-border cooperation during this period was caught in the tension between the political-administrative guidelines of the respective national centers and the locally specific requirements of a peripherally located border region. The data show that the actors in the Upper Rhine region were able to draw on long-established structures and experience in cross-border cooperation to overcome this “border shock.” The experiences during the pandemic also provided new impulses for cross-border cooperation in the Upper Rhine region and strengthened the political will for this at various levels. Thus, the article makes an explorative contribution to the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on border regions.