Narva-Ivangorod: On the Way from Bordering to Cross-Border Identity?

In the 20th century, several European towns were divided as a result of border demarcations. This process was often connected with an exchange of population, adaption to a new cultural space and the embedding of the past in the national history of the new town. Sometimes, elements of history were falsified or manipulated in order to create a new homogenous identity. However, physical traits, such as monuments, architecture styles, churches and buildings remained testament to the real history of the town.

Within the framework of regional policy in the European Union, cross-border cooperation has attributed a central role to the process of integration and the creation of a sense of ‘European identity’. Practice has shown that it is much easier to overcome the practicalities of physical division than the reality of mental division.

At the example of the divided cities Narva-Ivangorod in the Russian-Estonian border region, the processes of (re-) construction of identity from different perspectives in the divided border town will be analyzed and discussed. How is the past incorporated into the contemporary identity of cities and their inhabitants? What forms of memory politics can be observed there? How successful is the EU in creating togetherness and promoting European identification in twin towns? What role does the national border play in citizens’ daily life and identity? Under which circumstances can a common cross-border identity develop between border towns?