Projektwerkstatt SoSe 2025
Prof. Dr. Anke Hagemann, Ioanna Protopapadaki, Simten Önen

Borders in Transition II

Borders in Transition is a student-led peer-to-peer teaching project that explores the concept of borders through a spatial lens and unpacks the complex layers that configure border territories. We understand borders as physical and symbolic constructs, separating and connecting at the same time, and shaping urban and rural landscapes, identities, and power dynamics. While globalization has led us to a reductive understanding of borders as a way to regulate the flow of people, goods and information, we propose the concept of “borderlands” to study how dynamically changing policies, land use, development and infrastructure impact on space. As a result, borderlands are shaped by conflicts and contradictions. Additionally, as borders adapt to networks, their influence extends beyond traditional linear boundaries to include various types of spatialities and locations, such as airports, marine ports, and refugee camps.

Borders in Transition II will study human and nonhuman mobilities across tangible and intangible borders, as well as the different forms of border spatialities encountered inside state “bodies” and at their margins. The seminar will create a shared space for discussion and ex-change, and work on different case studies in groups. We will start the semester with reading sessions, inputs by guests and students, and continue by focusing on student-driven project work. The seminar is largely shaped by student-selected subtopics and methods, and is based on horizontal, peer-to-peer presentations and feedback sessions. At the end of the semester, we will collectively co produce an outcome which comprises all student projects and reflects on learnings across all case studies.

Photo: © Protopapadaki, Önen

Download poster here.