F1: In:Security in Border Regions (Workshop)

Dr. Nadja Douglas (ZOiS)

As a result of the Russian full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022 and ensuing global political events, security perceptions and discourses have changed, notably in those regions that border or are in close proximity to the Russian Federation. Security concepts, orders and visions have become even more contested today. Yet, in times where hard security themes and state centrism are once again on the rise, we want to look beyond and provide room for the discussion of lay understandings of security “from below”. This implies paying particular attention to ordinary people’s perceptions of security and insecurity and the changes in respective security discouses. Thus, this workshop endeavours to bring together experts from academia and think tanks with practioners from civil society on the ground. The theoretical basis, also in view of an envisioned future publication, will consist of a combination of border and critical/vernacular security studies. We will approach the topic, however, in a policy-oriented manner.

The workshop will focus on the following guiding questions:

• How have perceptions of borders/neighbourhood changed since February 24, 2022?
• How have border regions changed materially (in terms of border control/management, militarisation etc.)? And how has this affected border crossing practices?
• Which new insecurities and threats have emerged and exacerbated ever since? What role do parallel dynamics, as international migration, extraordinary measures in the context of the pandemic or trade restrictions/embargos play?
• What new needs, demands and expectations in relation to security exist among different actor groups (contrasting perspectives of state, experts/think tanks, civil society/ordinary people)? Which role do borders take in changing discourses with regard to in:security?

Online expert workshop on 8 June 2023