Pomicanje granice Europske unije na jugoistok i višestruki procesi teritorijalizacije
The shift of the European Union border to the southeast and multiple processes of territorialization

Summary/Abstract: The European Union, a unique postmodern political system, redefines statehood, sovereignty and territoriality and thus changes the traditional significance of territory and state borders. European integration causes the dismantling of existing spatial referential frames (deterritorialization), yet simultaneously fosters reterritorialization, i.e. the creation of new spatial relations and referential frames. European Union enlargement includes expansion of border and customs mechanisms which yet again emphasizes the role of territorial control and the importance of spatial boundary-drawing. The dynamic role and significance of territory in politics can be especially seen in the Croatian case. The war experience in recent Croatian history is linked with the imagining of territory and territoriality in politics. The accession of Croatia into EU is the first step towards de facto dismantling of borders towards other members-states within the Schengen system, yet at the same time it creates new dimensions to the boundaries towards the post-Yugoslav neighborhood. The three cases, i.e. borders disputes of Croatia with Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Montenegro illustrate the multi-facetted meaning of territory in politics and the inability to separate the political from the territorial.

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