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EUROPEAN ABS CONFERENCEBORDERS AND BORDERLANDS. TODAY'S CHALLENGES ANDTOMORROW'S PROSPECTS On behalf of the Organising Committee we are glad to invite you to take part in theEuropean ABS Conference that will be held in Lisbon (Portugal) from 12th to 15th of September 2012.Website:www.bordersandborderlands2012.weebly.com Contact mail:borderlisbon2012@gmail.comOBJECTIVESBy definition borderlines define the ends and limits of state intervention. Fromthe political point of view, they limit their sovereignty and help to distinguishbetween "us and them" thus providing a sense of belonging. They arealso seen as barriers, preventing or hindering the movement of people andgoods, acting therefore as factors that negatively affect regional economies.The ongoing process of globalization and the increase in trade and mobility on a globalscale are changing the role and significance of border regions. All over theworld borders are undergoing distinct processes. In some cases, we witness a de‐bordering process, where opportunities overlap barriers (like the case of the borderbetween the Mercosul partners), in other cases they are still being reinforcedand are strongly militarized and conflicting, or just controlled due to aspecific situation (like the case between Mexico and theUSA).Sometimes, even if they have disappeared, they still persist in the perceptions of thepeople who have lived in these places for a long time, as the language, theculture or religion serve as a reminder that they still exist. On the otherhand, while ICTs are contributing towards the de‐bordering of the world easingcontacts and global flows at the urban scale, the sociospatial segregationmotivates a re‐bordering process based on the diffusion of condominiums that can onlybe accessed by a few citizens.In Europe, borders are on the front line of each great challenge that is put to Europe’s future, namely when administering diversity while maintaining cohesion. The process of de‐bordering is right to be stimulated, and border regions are becoming the specific object of policies, aiming at greater economic, social and territorial cohesion, recognizing in this the importance of cooperation.This congress does not aim to merely gather together researchers and academics whowork in the issues of borders and cross‐border co‐operation, butalso social actors and institutions that are directly (and daily) involved incross‐border co‐operation, implementing projects and solving problems, providingtherefore a broad and multidisciplinary discussion.Abstract submission : Abstracts should be sent until January 15thAuthor´s Notification : Authors will be notified about the outcome of the selectionprocess by March 4thSubmission of papers  : Completed manuscripts forinclusion in the conference proceedings should be delivered by June 17th