Border cities: contested identities of the European city

Abstract

Much of the rich urban culture of Central and Eastern Europe was abruptly interrupted in the course of the 20th century, leaving towns and cities literally disconnected from the international urban network. Many cities also became border cities in a metaphorical sense, because their geographic position and the prestige of their institutions as well as their cityscape made them a focus of both affinity and resistance against national and supra-national political power systems. Successive wars and the ensuing changes on the political map of Central and Eastern Europe led to cities being systematically devastated for political-military and ideological reasons. However, they have demonstrated a striking capacity for recovery and revival.