Leiden University Scholarly Publications

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Klajn, M.E. (2026)

Agents of change? (Hi)stories, perspectives, and everyday practices of Polish border guards

Doctoral Thesis
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...Show moreThis 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.
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Border control
Discretion
Poland
Polish Border Guard
Schengen
Crimmigration
Law in action
All authors
Klajn, M.E.
Supervisor
Woude, M.A.H. van der; Leun, J.P. van der; Gundhus, H.O.I.
Committee
Campos Delgado, A.E.; Boer, M.G.W. den; Vega, I.; Klaus, W.
Qualification
Doctor (dr.)
Awarding Institution
Institute for the Interdisciplinary Study of the Law, Faculty of Law, Leiden University
Date
2026-03-25
DOI
doi:10.60602/1887-4299140

Funding

Sponsorship
NWO