The Covid-19 Pandemic as a Driver for Transformation Processes in European Border Regions? A Comparative Analysis of Franco-German and German-Polish Borderlands

This article aims to explore the transformation processes of European border regions, illustrated in a comparative case study of Franco-German and German-Polish borderlands. It applies ‘resilience’ as a conceptual framework, understanding this as the threefold ability to withstand a disruptive event, to adapt to new circumstances, and to launch a transformation process. Taking into consideration the different developmental paths of bilateral relations between the countries concerned, and their impact on cross-border cooperation, the article first discusses the historical development of both border regions, indicating the main stages of establishment of bilateral relations. Then, viewing the Covid-19 pandemic as a key factor shaping cross-border cooperation in Europe, it analyses and compares adaptation and transformation mechanisms, demonstrating that despite considerable differences in the duration and institutionalized structure of cross-border cooperation, resilience strategies in handling the crisis in both border regions show many parallels. Regular online meetings, personal contacts, mutual trust, and intercultural competence have been suggested as crucial factors enhancing the resilience capacity of both western and eastern border regions.