Guarding the EU Borders

The paper will reflect on the specific position of Croatia at the external EU borders. Although dramatic international context recalls its former mythic role of the Antemurale Christianitatis (“bulwark of Christianity”), as a sort of meeting place and crossroads of cultures and religions, with accumulated historical experience of cultural diversity, Croatia could have a much more human and ambitious role as a competent cultural mediator. The analysis will include historical perspective and elaboration of narratives of European and Croatian cultural history related to Europe's borders. The Europeans have divided up the world, set the boundary lines and defined what European civilization is. Separating and dividing the actual multitude of interaction processes and social relations, these borders mark the distinction between inside and outside, between the foreign and familiar, kin and alien, friend and foe, culture and nature, enlightenment and barbarism. These borders reflect a history whose purpose was to separate Europe from alien times ("communism") as well from alien places („Islam“, „Russia“). The reality or myth of the Europe's East-West as well as the North-South divide has become part of the political game in Europe. Those who use these concepts in their rhetoric and political strategies, are inclined to speak of a clash of incompatible civilizations. This perception is leading to dangerous developments on both sides of the Mediterranean. Europe’s economic and political division, which has its roots in the current crisis, has triggered discourses fuelled by fears and dissociation in the core countries of the EU and nationalistic and populist movements in the Europe's eastern and southern periphery. Bearing in mind all these challenges, the paper will elaborate the current situation in Croatia and propose the more sustainable model of using EU borders.