Reconnecting Divided Urban Spaces Through Cross-Border Cooperation In The Bulgarian-Greek Borderland

Nuri Korkmaz, Bursa Technical University, Turkey

Professor Korkmaz has published on topics such as Turkish/Muslim minorities in the Balkans, nation building processes in multi-ethnic societies, and the role of political systems in accommodating ethnic minorities.

The Bulgarian-Greek border region serves as a compelling case for examining both the potential and the limitations of the EU’s transformative power.
The cities of Kardzhali (Bulgaria) and Komotini (Greece) offer valuable empirical insights into the dynamics of cross-border cooperation.

Decades of Cold War division entrenched the perception of a hard border in the region – an obstacle that persisted even after
Bulgaria acceded to the EU and continues to shape the Europeanization process. Although much remains to be done, significant progress is evident in the everyday interactions within the urban spaces of Kardzhali and Komotini.

**

Nuri Korkmaz, Université Technique de Bursa, Turquie

Le professeur Korkmaz a publié sur des sujets tels que les minorités turques/musulmanes dans les Balkans, les processus de construction nationale dans les sociétés multiethniques, ainsi que le rôle des systèmes politiques dans l’intégration des minorités ethniques.

Veuillez noter que cette présentation se déroulera uniquement en anglais.