The binational reality of border-crossing cities

In a time of changing border functions city pairs on either side of national state borders have increasingly become objects of attention, because of border crossing contacts and co-operation at the local level. This paper focuses on conceptual aspects of such city pairs, owing their existence to either duplication of an already existing city or to partitioning of a once united city. In search of a proper name that expresses the relations between such partner cities without metaphorical exaggeration, the current vocabulary is reviewed. Especially the notion of the ‘binational city’ receives critical attention. A discussion of selected cases of paired cities in Europe and North-America has been included to underline the importance of local conditions and historical backgrounds with regard to the mutual relations and conditions of co-operation. In conclusion the author states that for the time being ‘border–crossing’ cities seems to be the best name for city pairs of different national backgrounds, the emergence of true ‘binational cities’ being a rather exceptional outcome in a far future.