Literature of particular Hungarian EGTCs

In recent years, one of the dominant narratives in border studies has been that cross-border interactions rarely lead to deep integration, and that the border continues to act as a strong dividing line. This article seeks to contribute to a more nuanced understanding of the situation without questioning history. Using the four analytical lenses proposed by Brunet-Jailly (2005, Theorizing Borders: An Interdisciplinary Perspective, Geopolitics, 10(4), 633–649), we examined the Slovak–Hungarian border region around Štúrovo (Párkány) and Esztergom, where significant developments toward deep integration have occurred on both sides.

The empirical data are based on 26 personal interviews with local elites, statistical information, field observations, and other sources. Two dimensions are particularly important in explaining this integration. The first is related to market forces: a persistently difficult economic situation, including high unemployment on the agriculturally dominant Slovak side, forced thousands of people to commute daily to workplaces on the industrially oriented Hungarian side, where labor demand is high.

The second key dimension relates to the local cross-border culture, where shared identities and languages on both sides have led to extensive cultural and educational exchange. Activities linked to multi-level governance and local political influence have also facilitated these developments. Our case challenges the common assumption that an increase in cross-border integration coincides with a decrease in cross-border mobility.