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The Border Policy Research Institute (BPRI) at Western Washington University is a multidisciplinary institute that undertakes research to inform policy-makers on matters related to the Canada–United States border, particularly in the Cascadia region.
Priority focus areas include:
- Border management
- Economic relationships
- Cross-border mobility
- Cross-border collaboration
Western Washington University established the BPRI in 2005 after September 11th transformed border relations and security. The BPRI continues to promote research, academic programs, and public programming on critical policy issues affecting border crossings between British Columbia and Washington State. We work closely with cognate programs at the university and collaborate with many public and private entities throughout the region.
BPRI to join discussion on global models of cross-border collaboration hosted by the European Commission, June 4th
On June 4th, the European Commission's Border Focal Point Network will host a webinar titled “Cross-border cooperation in the World.” Part of the European Commission’s platform for strengthening cooperation in border regions, this program brings together public authorities, experts, civil society, and young people to exchange good practices, overcome cross-border obstacles, and improve services in EU border regions. This session aims to broaden the understanding of cross-border cooperation beyond the European context by examining different geopolitical, institutional, and cultural settings.
The debate will bring together academics, policy experts, and practitioners from North America, Central Asia, Africa, and South America, alongside representatives from EU institutions, to discuss the diverse meanings of cross-border cooperation around the world. The conversation will explore how borders are experienced, governed, and crossed in other parts of the world. BPRI's Laurie Trautman will present at the program, along with scholars from Kazakhstan, Kenya, the Argentina–Brazil–Uruguay border region, and the US - Mexico border. "The opportunity to engage with experiences in other global contexts enables us to broaden our perspectives here in the Cascadia Region, while also allowing us to showcase some of the leadership, collaboration, and challenges we face as a cross-border community," says Trautman. All of the Border Focal Point Network's webinars are available online.