ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses the varying nature of borders in relation to the notion of 'new territorialism' as the more general term for 'new regionalism'. The multi-scalar nature of territoriality and boundedness has, in a Northern Irish context, been termed by Hayward "multilevel borders of division". This reflects the inherent divisive nature of the border in Northern Ireland both politically and societally. It is because of the deep-seated feelings of a divided society, where borders feature first and foremost as expressions and manifestations of divisions, otherness and distrusting separateness that he speaks of 'multi-level border conflicts'. The Baltic Sea Region as one such virtual multi-national space, serving different purposes and encompasses varying geometries of participating states. The long term and deep-seated commitment to reducing inequalities and bringing the different parts of the EU closer together around a common European average standard of living, has been shaping Western Europe's social and economic policy for many decades as part of its cohesion policies.
