Perspectives from the French-Luxembourgish and the Belgian-German Borders

When six European nations embarked on the integration process in the wake of World War II, there was no blueprint. Of course, the founders had a vision and shared ideals, but European integration has left some citizens afraid of losing their identity and cultural heritage and an influx of immigrants has fuelled these fears. Building on this topic, this panel brings together researchers who focus on different aspects of what happens to history and heritage in multicultural European societies and particularly those in the border regions over time. New technologies are being used in innovated ways to communicate histories and memories to the public and with the goal to boost social and cultural participation. Since these former industrial regions in France, Luxembourg, Belgium, Netherlands and Germany have coped with similar challenges including the decline of the mining industry and changing borders, this panel aims to help us understand what opportunities lie in engaging local communities in research and how this can contribute to creating a sense of shared European heritage and identity.