It is as of yet unclear whether and how the aspirations of the field can be reconciled with the realities of its practices. Supposing, however, that there is something to be learned from shifting the gaze towards the “borderlands” (Earhart 2018) of the field’s perceived center of activity – especially in a continental European context –, it would appear paramount to interrogate the theme of the conference and probe the boundaries of its ‘openness’ against this backdrop of socio-economic, political and infrastructural inequalities.