Neighbours across the border – how communities cooperate in the shadow of war
As the war in Ukraine threatens to reshape the map of Europe, Sara Svensson, Senior Lecturer in Political Science at Halmstad University, turns her attention to the border regions. She studies how people manage everyday life amid uncertainty and unrest – and how local communities can build resilience when global politics are in flux.
The war in Ukraine has not only altered the security situation in Europe, but also the everyday lives of people living near the border. To understand how communities are affected and adapt in the shadow of conflict, Sara Svensson has studied the Ukrainian–Hungarian border region. In the edited volume “Resilience as Deterrence: Towards a Comprehensive Security Panorama”, funded by NATO Science for Peace and Security, she and Péter Balogh, Lecturer in Human Geography at Eötvös Loránd University in Budapest, contributed a chapter examining how communities in the region are influenced by the war and the shifting security landscape in Europe.
“Borders aren’t just about where countries begin and end. They’re also about people – how they cooperate, find solutions and get by when the political situation changes”, says Sara Svensson.
Life at the EU border
The Ukrainian–Hungarian border region marks the outer edge of both the EU and NATO – a place where local needs meet high-level politics. Here, people of different languages and backgrounds live side by side and have long cooperated across the border. At the same time, everyday life is marked by tangible obstacles: only five border crossings, long waiting times and inadequate infrastructure make both mobility and cross-border cooperation difficult – especially in times of war.
Despite these challenges, the study shows strong collaboration between municipalities, businesses and civil society – a form of “bottom-up diplomacy” that keeps dialogue alive even when relations between states are strained.
“When political relations freeze at international and national level, cooperation on the ground can continue. Municipalities and regions can become bridge-builders when states pull away from each other”, says Sara Svensson.
The cooperation also reflects a particular kind of resilience – not just the ability to withstand crises but to evolve through them. This resilience is evident in how local actors find new ways to collaborate even as circumstances change.
“Understanding how people in border regions act in times of crisis helps us view security from a broader perspective. It is not only about defence and diplomacy, but also about trust, everyday life and cooperation.”
Sara Svensson
The multicultural fabric of the region remains strong, with minorities often serving as bridges between countries. However, their role can easily become politicised when national actors use minority issues for their own purposes.
“In border regions, there is a long tradition of coexistence and mutual dependence. When that tradition is respected, it fosters trust and stability across the border – but when it is exploited politically, there is a risk of undermining the very local resilience that holds communities together”, says Sara Svensson.
Two possible futures
The researchers outline two possible future scenarios. If Ukraine withstands Russia’s aggression and continues to move closer to the EU, the border region could become a driver of growth and cooperation. More border crossings, improved infrastructure and new EU projects could increase mobility and strengthen the economy on both sides.
If, however, the war drags on, or if Russia tightens its grip, the area risks depopulation, economic decline and growing mistrust between groups. But even in that scenario, the researchers identify small pockets of resilience – local networks and communities that stick together and sustain hope for future recovery.
“Even in the most difficult times, people find ways to adapt and help one another”, says Sara Svensson.
Research that connects the local and the global
Sara Svensson, Senior Lecturer in Political Science.
Sara Svensson is a Senior Lecturer in Political Science and leads the research programme Transformation, Innovation and Norm Sciences (TRAINS) at Halmstad University. She earned her PhD at Central European University in Budapest in 2013 and has extensive experience studying politics and governance in European border areas, currently within the EU-funded project B-Shapes: Borders Shaping Perceptions of European Societies.
“Understanding how people in border regions act in times of crisis helps us view security from a broader perspective. It is not only about defence and diplomacy, but also about trust, everyday life and cooperation”, says Sara Svensson.
Text: Lovisa Essunger
Photo: iStock, Magnus Karlsson
About the book
“Resilience as Deterrence: Towards a Comprehensive Security Panorama” is an open-access volume based on a NATO-funded research workshop held in Joensuu, Finland, in October 2024. The event gathered over 130 participants from several countries to discuss how resilience can strengthen Europe’s security in light of Russia’s aggressive actions and hybrid threats. Edited by Professor Jussi P. Laine (University of Eastern Finland) and Professor Bo Petersson (Malmö University), the book brings together peer-reviewed chapters on topics such as the significance of borders, disinformation campaigns and NATO’s role after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Sara Svensson and Péter Balogh’s chapter: Resilience-Building Along NATO’s Eastern Flank: The Case of the Ukrainian-Hungarian Borderland External link.
Entire book: Resilience as Deterrence: Towards a Comprehensive Security Panorama External link.
