It is the Border (An Attempt for a Sociological Reflections on the Limits, beyond which Most is the Same)
It is the Border (An Attempt for a Sociological Reflections on the Limits, beyond which Most is the Same)

Summary/Abstract: My interest, both professional and as a citizen, toward the borders or boundaries, mainly between states, came with my experience. First, I was born and raised in a country from the so called ‘socialist camp’, where state borders were ‘firmly locked’ following the Soviet pattern. My life experience was that of a person – Homo balkanicus – who has some relatives on the other side of the border, ones that everyone knows they exist, but usually does not recognise or know closely. Thus, border change and border crossing had a special place in the family memories and lulling tales from my early childhood. For me my father’s birth place was beyond the border, and thus inaccessible. And it is only 50 km – slightly more than 30 miles from Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria… Times of fierce confrontation between Bulgaria and Yugoslavia were already gone, but still these 50 km appeared to be too big distance to be crossed for the funeral of my 104-years old grandfather. It took about 60 years for my father to dare to return to his native town, bringing there all our family. Thus the historical memory was, at least partially, restored; otherwise, our roots would remain virtual, imaginary…

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