PhD defence
Agents of Change?
- M.E. Klajn
- Date
- Wednesday 25 March 2026
- Time
- Location
-
Academy Building
Rapenburg 73
2311 GJ Leiden
Supervisor(s)
- Prof.dr. M.A.H. van der Woude
- Prof.dr. H.O.I. Gundhus
- Prof.dr. J.P. van der Leun
Summary
This dissertation examines how borders continue to shape people’s lives inside Europe, even though the Schengen Agreement officially removed many internal border controls. Focusing on the Polish–German border, the research explores how border officials make everyday decisions that influence who moves freely, who is questioned, and who is stopped.
The study is based on extensive ethnographic fieldwork, including more than 900 hours of observation alongside Polish border officials, as well as interviews and qualitative surveys. By closely examining daily practices rather than only laws and policies, the research shows how borders are not simply fixed lines on a map but are continuously produced through human interaction, discretion, and interpretation.
The findings demonstrate that border control is shaped not only by legal rules but also by history, emotions, and organizational cultures. Officials often operate under uncertainty and rely on personal judgment, which means that borders persist in practice even within a formally borderless Europe. The dissertation also shows how migration control increasingly overlaps with criminal law, affecting both migrants and EU citizens.
The social relevance of this research lies in its contribution to public debates about migration, security, and fairness. By showing how decisions made at street level influence mobility and belonging, the dissertation helps explain why experiences of borders differ so strongly between individuals. These insights are important for policymakers, researchers, and society at large when discussing how borders should function in a democratic Europe.
PhD dissertations
Approximately one week after the defence, PhD dissertations by Leiden PhD students are available digitally through the Leiden Repository, that offers free access to these PhD dissertations. Please note that in some cases a dissertation may be under embargo temporarily and access to its full-text version will only be granted later.
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General information
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