Research into the impact of border controls on residents

After 40 years of free movement within the Schengen Area, the border between the Netherlands and Germany, we were once again faced with systematic identity checks. Marije Michel, Professor of Second Language Acquisition, will investigate together with Juliana Goschler, Professor of German as a Second Language at the University of Oldenburg (UOL), what this means for residents of the border region, their attitudes towards one another, and their language use.

Over the next six months, Marije Michel will work together with colleague Juliana Goschler from the UOL on the project entitled 'Bridges and Borders of Democracy: A dynamic investigation into attitudes and relationships of German-Dutch Neighbours in the North’.

‘To be able to face future challenges, we need a society that is resilient and firmly united,’ states Marije Michel. ‘That is why, through the Hannah Arendt Fellowship, we want to gain better insight into what happens when you reintroduce physical borders. Not only can this influence democratic values ​​in Europe in general, but it can also specifically clarify how this development affects mutual interest and attitudes towards one another.’

Strategic partner

Oldenburg University is a strategic partner of the University of Groningen. In that context, Michel has been successfully collaborating for years with colleagues from Dutch Studies (Esther Ruigendijk), German Studies (Juliana Goschler, Kerstin Anders), and the teacher training program via DAAD International (Martin Butler). With the Hannah Arendt Fellowship now awarded to her, she can also strengthen the research line of this collaboration.

The project runs until the end of September. Michel: ‘Juliana and I view this research as a first step towards a larger international follow-up study.’ It is wonderful that we can start now, and even more wonderful that the project strengthens mutual ties, not only with strategic partner UOL, but indirectly also with the University of Göttingen, our ENLIGHT partner.’

More information about the Hannah Arandt Fellowship.