BORDERS, NATIONAL SOVEREIGNTY AND EUROPEAN INTEGRATION - THE BRITISH-IRISH CASE

This paper uses a case study of the British-Irish border region to exp lore the relationship between European integration and national sovere ignty. Drawing on interview material and survey research, it examines the interaction between ethno-national conflict, the progress towards cross-border economic cooperation, and the policies of two rather diff erent, if highly centralized, EU states. In particular, it examines tw o issues, the operation of the EU's INTERREG Initiative for border are as, and the strengthening of the Irish border via road closures and fo rtifications. The conclusions suggest that EU membership, the economic strategies of both states and their management of the Northern Irelan d conflict provide little evidence that national sovereignty and the s alience of national boundaries are being undermined. National sovereig nty may even be strengthened where economic peripherality interacts wi th high degrees of state centralization and ongoing conflict. Finally, the paper supports the view that nation-states emphasize economic rat ionality less than political and security objectives in the administra tion and development of border regions.