Interwoven Identities and the Blending of Cultures

ROUND TABLE - April 10, 2025, at 17:30 at the Palazzo del Cinema (Piazza della Vittoria 41, Gorizia)

"Cultural Identity of Border Communities Past and Present"

Guests: Stefano Lusa, Varja Močnik, Sergio Toffetti, Marta Verginella
Moderated by: Donatello Fumarola

Borders, on one hand, close off a country and its culture, but on the other hand, they serve as gateways to something beyond, exposed to the proximity of "the other." This relationship, unfortunately, is often exploited to create conflicts and oppositions.

Historically, borders are movable; they shift and retreat under the pressure of weapons and political strategies. Due to this mobility and instability, border areas have become places of cultural layering. Despite nationalist tendencies, this cultural richness represents an opportunity for communities. Particularly in Europe, a "continent of nations" that connects diverse cultures and strives for peaceful coexistence, borders offer an identity opportunity that cannot be confined to a single culture. Cultures—like Italian culture, which has been shaped by numerous influences throughout history—are never monolithic. Instead, they are permeated by dynamic complexities that evolve and change over time.

The border between Italy and Slovenia was once the site of fierce battles, later becoming an area for exchange in the geopolitical strategies following World War II. It has also been a subject of territorial disputes and cross-propaganda between political entities throughout history. However, it has also become a living space for communities with different languages and traditions—a space for coexistence and transition. On one side, a barrier; on the other, a springboard.

This round table, conceived as a moment of exchange and dialogue, brings together personalities from different communities across the cross-border macro-region (from the source of the Soča River to the farthest edge of Istria). We are firmly convinced that multiculturalism is the right path for the European Union and its communities to ensure a future for the people who live in these regions.