On March 14, members of the Eur-Asian Border Lab participated in an insightful workshop at the Global Asia Research Center, National Taiwan University, focusing on the intersection of geopolitics, borders, and technological advancements. The event, hosted by Yikung Po-Hi, featured two of our own researchers, Jussi P. Laine and Tarmo Tikker, who shared their expertise on contemporary EU-Russia relations and border studies.
The workshop highlighted the evolving concept of borders, emphasizing the need to view them as “voluminous” rather than linear. As Jussi Laine from the University of Eastern Finland noted, modern borders are not just defined by physical territory but also involve airspace, undersea cables, and technological domains. This approach helps us understand how traditional territorial boundaries are transforming in response to geopolitical tensions and technological interventions.
Tarmo Tikker from Tallinn University shared insights from his research in the Baltic Sea region and Taiwan, drawing parallels between maritime borders and their impact on local communities, identities, and politics. His field trip to Kinmen Island revealed how proximity to China influences daily life and politics, a concept similarly observed in Estonia’s maritime borders.
The discussions also explored new opportunities for collaboration between National Taiwan University, Tallinn University, and the University of Eastern Finland, aligning with our lab’s goals to deepen research on borders and geopolitics.
 |
 |