State Borders Research Articles

Challenges in Migrations: Combating Trafficking in Human Beings in Serbia

The state laws of the Republic of Serbia recognize trafficking in human beings as a form of organized criminal activity, and different acts treat the prevention, repression and punishment of trafficking in human beings as well as the protection of the witnesses and the injured persons, before, in the course of and after the criminal prosecution. The Council of the Government of the Republic of Serbia for the fight against human trafficking was first constituted in December 2005, as an expert, advisory body of the Government. The Constitution of the Republic of Serbia from 2006 deals with the issue of human trafficking in the provision of Article 26: “It is expressly forbidden that no one can be held in slavery or in a position similar to slavery, that is, every form of human trafficking and forced labor under which it is considered sexual or economic exploitation of persons in a disadvantaged position”. The Criminal Code sanctioned: Human Trafficking (Art. 388); Trafficking in children for adoption (Art. 389); Establishment of slavery and transportation of persons in slavery (Art. 390). People smuggling is criminalized as a separate criminal offense under Unauthorized Crossing of the State Border and People Smuggling (Art. 350). The aims of this work are to indicate all relevant regulations that are applied against human trafficking in Serbia as well as to show the cooperation of Serbia as a candidate country and EU accession with other countries in the fight against human trafficking and the cooperation of state authorities and non-governmental organizations in preventing human trafficking in Serbia and abroad. At last, the cases of migrants and human trafficking described in the media are presented and what kind of attention these criminological phenomenons are causing in Serbia.

A multi-functional military simulator of controlling a mobile robot with FPV and a feedback system.

The active development of mobile and autonomous robotics in the last decade contributes to the search for opportunities for their application and solving tasks in the field of "Military Affairs, National Security, State Border Security". The study provides a classification, considers modern aspects and the state of military simulators in the world. An analysis of the use of modern military simulator technologies used in Ukraine to ensure the most realistic and effective training of military personnel is carried out, and examples of the use of military simulators in Ukraine are given. In the process of describing a multi-functional military mobile robot control simulator with FPV and feedback system, the target feedback function is provided, and the importance of using a mathematical apparatus to build a simulation device is determined. The work provides schemes and modes of operation of a multifunctional military simulator of controlling a mobile robot with FPV and a feedback system. When writing the conclusions, it is indicated that an important factor of modernity is the integration of new technologies. Future military simulators are sure to include a number of new technologies that will further enhance their effectiveness and realism.

Higher frequency of interstate over international transmission chains of SARS-CoV-2 virus at the Rio Grande do Sul - Brazil state borders.

Brazil's COVID-19 response has faced challenges due to the continuous emergence of variants of concern (VOCs), emphasizing the need for ongoing genomic surveillance and retrospective analyses of past epidemic waves to reassess and fine tune containment protocols. Rio Grande do Sul (RS), Brazil's southernmost state, has international borders and trades with Argentina and Uruguay, along with significant domestic connections within Brazil. The identification of source and sink transmission chains at national and international scales can identify main hubs and pathways to target future interventions. In this study we investigated the RS state role in the national and international SARS-CoV-2 transmission chains, which has not been fully explored. Nasopharyngeal samples from various municipalities in RS were collected between June 2020 and July 2022. SARS-CoV-2 whole genome amplification and sequencing were performed using high-throughput Illumina sequencing. Bioinformatics analysis encompassed the development of scripts and tools to perform subsampling taking into account epidemiological information to reduce sequencing disparities bias among the regions/countries, genome assembly, and large-scale alignment and phylogenetic reconstruction. We sequenced a total of 1,480 SARS-CoV-2 genomes from RS, covering all major regions. Sequences predominantly represented Gamma (April-June 2021) and Omicron (January-July 2022) lineages. Phylogenetic analysis revealed a regional pattern for transmission dynamics, particularly with Southeast Brazil for Gamma, and a range of inter-regional connections for Delta and Omicron within the country. On the other hand, international and cross-border transmission with Argentina and Uruguay was rather limited. We evaluated the three VOCs circulation over two years in RS using a new subsampling strategy based on the number of cases in each state during the circulation of each VOC. In summary, the retrospective analysis of genomic surveillance data demonstrated that virus transmission was less intense between country borders than within the country. These findings suggest that while non-pharmacological interventions were effective to mitigate transmission across international RS land borders, while they were insufficient to contain transmission at the domestic level.

Értékteremtés a közlekedésben a határmenti közlekedési közszolgáltatások fejlesztésével

The territories and borders of the countries in Europe changed a lot during the last century, which had a positive effect on some states and a negative effect on others, but in all cases it can be said that it led to a reorganization of territorial processes. In addition to Hungary’s territorial loss, it does not have a border region where the new state border would not have split a naturally formed region in two. Borders, among other things, by eliminating transport options, turned the border areas into „backwaters”, which led to their devaluation. The aim of the research is to prove that the specific aspect of value creation is the creation of cross-border transport, within this, the realization of transport accessible to everyone by creating the availability of public transport services. The purpose of cross-border transport is to improve the situation of two peripheral areas that exist side by side, but are incapable of lasting cooperation with each other due to the lack of transport connections. The first stage of connections is the existence of the infrastructure, on which certain activities can be carried out, such as individual modes of transport, organized group transport and goods transport. However, the existence of public transport or public transport services occupies a special place in the formation of regions. During the research, in addition to the state of the infrastructure, different public transport services were mapped and compared, and the value-creating power of public transport services was verified by comparing social and economic phenomena.

Medieval Foundations for the Development of the Modern Slovenian Nation and National Identity

Although the Slovenian nation did not exist in the Middle Ages, it was this nearly thousand-year-long period that witnessed the gradual formation of certain foundations for its subsequent development. Among these was, first and foremost, the geographical area of the Slovenian linguistic community which was formed once the state border was settled between the Holy Roman Empire and the Kingdom of Hungary and once the systematic medieval colonization came to an end. These two processes were also closely linked to the genesis of the Slovenian language, which dates back to the High Middle Ages. However, still older roots pertain to Christianity, the adoption of which brought about profound religious and social changes, coupled with political and cultural affiliation of Slovenian territory to the European West. The article focuses on presenting the above-mentioned three foundations and their part in the formation of the modern Slovenian nation and national identity.

Functioning of the state border of the Republic of Moldova in the context of the development of international cooperation. The dialectic connection

This article summarizes the analysis of the functioning regime of the state border of the Republic of Moldova interdependent with the political vectors of development of the country on the international arena. From the proclamation of independence to the present, the regime of functioning of the Moldovan bordershas varied from dimensions of statehood fortification to contributions through participation in ensuring regional security. At the present stage, border authorities concerned with the national strategic objective - European integration, must focus on developing a new modern concept of border functioning, which takes into account two main dialectically interlinked parameters: on the one hand, the border must be as open as possible for cooperation with the international and regional community, and on the other hand, it must continue to provide unconditional protection of national interests and national security.

Security of the state border of the Republic of Moldova on the military aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine

The war launched by the Russian Federation against Ukraine is shaping up to be the most important military conflict since the end of World War II. The Russian-Ukrainian war is not just a regional war. In the context of the military aggression of the Russian Federation in Ukraine, ensuring the “border security” of the state currently becomes an imperative of the time. The presence of multiple problems at the border of the Republic of Moldova requires an additional effort to ensure border control. Ensuring “security and border control” is the essential function of every state. This article highlights the main problems present at the border of the Republic of Moldova. The problems faced by the Republic of Moldova in securing its own borders in the context of Russia’s aggression in Ukraine are also reflected.

When Disasters Cross State Borders: Pennsylvania's Public Health Response to the Norfolk Southern Train Derailment in East Palestine, Ohio.

This case study explores the actions taken by the Pennsylvania Department of Health to address public health concerns related to the Norfolk Southern train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio. Due to the location of the train derailment on the Ohio-Pennsylvania border, the case demonstrates the inherent challenges of addressing disasters that occur across state lines. Furthermore, the train derailment was regarded as an environmental disaster rather than a public health emergency, further complicating response efforts.

Legal regulation of the activity of state border protection bodies of the State Border Guard Service Service of Ukraine during the implementation of measures of the legal regime of emergency

Legal regulation of the activity of state border protection bodies of the State Border Guard Service Service of Ukraine during the implementation of measures of the legal regime of emergency

Temple Diplomacy, Sacred Rites, and Overseas Chinese During the Reign of Song Emperor Zhenzong (997–1022)

Throughout most of Chinese history, leaders viewed the migration and movement of their subjects beyond state borders as a symptom of poor governance. As a result, record keepers generally avoided addressing the topic of Chinese people traveling or residing overseas. There is, however, an exceptional moment in Chinese history that provides valuable insight into the early establishment of Chinese communities abroad. Facing political pressure after signing a humiliating peace treaty with foreign adversaries in 1005, the Song dynasty emperor Zhenzong (968–1022, r. 997–1022) utilized unconventional forms of religious diplomacy and revived ancient rites to shore up support for his rule. The Feng and Shan rites were the highest level of sacrifice that an emperor could undertake, and they were only carried out by several emperors prior to Zhenzong’s reign. One of the requirements of this complex ritual was for the sovereign to attract foreign peoples from afar by his virtuous character, and so Zhenzong’s reign witnessed major initiatives to attract foreign envoys from states such as Srivijaya (Sumatra), Dai Viet (northern Vietnam), Japan, and India. Zhenzong’s reign also incorporated forms of diplomacy that originated in South and Southeast Asia, namely, the construction of temples in foreign states to enhance his spiritual authority. This essay will demonstrate that Emperor Zhenzong relied on Chinese merchants residing overseas to work with foreign leaders to coordinate the participation of foreign emissaries in such forms of temple diplomacy and in the Feng and Shan sacrifices. The significance of these events brought the activities of Chinese people trading and residing overseas to the attention of the Song court and its chroniclers, and as a result, we are left with the earliest indications of Chinese communities abroad in official Chinese histories.

THE STATE BORDER DOCUMENTATION POLICY AND ITS IMPLEMENTATION

The international community considers the border policy to be a crucial aspect of the country's security and political strategy. The resolution of the state border issue has been in accordance with agreements, domestic laws, programs, and projects related to Mongolia's international border. Therefore, the Mongolian government developed and approved the document "The basis of the Mongolian government's border policy" in 2002 to establish a legal framework for coordinating state border activities, addressing related issues, and ensuring border protection. This document is based on the provisions of the Constitution, National Security and foreign policy concepts, and aims to evaluate the implementation of laws and international agreements while optimizing the legal environment. The document remains in force since its approval by the National Assembly in 2002. This supporting document outlines an ideological system that upholds the state's independence, sovereignty, territorial integrity, and the inviolability of its borders. It also includes mechanisms for ensuring state border security, as well as the goals, objectives, principles, and main directions for its implementation. This document has been crucial in maintaining the continuity of government policy. In an era of increasing complexity in the global and regional security landscape, countries are focusing on safeguarding border security, addressing potential threats and risks, and maintaining national borders and territorial integrity. This underscores the significance of emphasizing unity, shared interests, and collective security over individual national interests and security. From ancient times (Great Mongolia) to the present day, Mongolia has consistently prioritized its border security and has implemented various policies and activities to safeguard the integrity of its borders. There has always been a requirement to create policy documents for border protection and enhance legal capabilities to safeguard the integrity of the state border, as well as to coordinate and oversee national border protection efforts based on societal needs, aims, and objectives. In light of Mongolia's development policy and legal reform, the state military and institutions with special functions are undergoing reform. A series of state policy and legal documents have been updated and approved, establishing a legal framework. Consequently, there is a pressing need to review the government's border policy, which has remained unchanged for two decades.

ASPECTOS JURÍDICOS E CONSEQUÊNCAIS DA REPARTIÇÃO CONSTITUCIONAL DE COMPETÊNCIAS QUANTO A REGULAÇÃO DO TRANSPORTE AQUAVIÁRIO LONGITUDINAL NO AMAZONAS

This article addresses the legal and consequential aspects of the constitutional division of powers in regulating longitudinal waterway transport in Amazonas. The Federal Constitution of 1988 assigns the Union responsibility for operating waterway transport services that cross state borders or are located within border zones. However, regulating waterway transport within states and municipalities presents unique challenges, requiring effective coordination among federal entities. The study analyzes state norms and laws, with a focus on Law No. 5,604/2021 and State Decree No. 45,110/2022. It concludes that harmonizing regulations and fostering cooperation among regulatory agencies is essential for promoting safe, efficient, and integrated waterway transport, meeting the needs of the population, and contributing to the sustainable development of the Amazon region.

The role of journalists of the State Border Guard Service in military journalism in Ukraine

Modern Ukrainian media and communicators pay great attention to military journalism. Today, this field is gaining popularity in Ukraine and the world, as more and more media representatives work in conditions that threaten their health and lives. The challenges of hybrid warfare make scientists more interested in military topics, as the war is waged on two fronts — military and informational. The article considers the stages of formation and development of Ukrainian military journalism, focusing on its current state. Attention is drawn to the state of scientific research of modern military journalism. The role of journalists in the uniform of the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine (SBGSU) is actualized. We emphasized the need to popularize the military journalists, their contribution to the development of Ukrainian journalism. The main directions of activity of the SBGSU journalists are analyzed and determined their place and role in modern military media. The functions and tasks of military journalism, the rights and obligations of combatant journalists while serving both in the war zone and in peaceful areas of the Ukrainian border are separately considered. The main tasks include covering the activities of the SBGSU and preparing materials for the media; information support for the internal work of the service; prompt response to events; work with regional and national media; countering disinformation; coordination with other state structures. The results can be used in the development of educational programs in military and civilian educational institutions, as well as in retraining courses for civilian correspondents who plan to work in the war zone.

Anarcho-Motherhood, Border Controls, and Resistance in the Greater U.S.–Mexico Borderlands

This article centers the labor activism of two Mexican borderland anarchists, Caritina Piña and Felipa Velásquez, who politicized the idea of motherhood from a radical, anti-state, and labor-union centered perspective to speak on behalf of all workers during the 1920s, an era of increased border controls. Through an examination of their lived experiences—which included participation in direct action (strikes, land assaults), written petitions to heads of state on behalf of political prisoners, and news sharing of key labor issues across state and international borders—Piña and Velásquez embodied a countermovement against increased border surveillance that stood as a reminder of how labor activists, too, shaped the contours of border policy from their respective communities.

Children, Border(land)s and mixed economies of welfare

This special issue is a comprehensive exploration of the pivotal role of state borders in shaping child welfare in various European borderlands from the First World War to the present. The richly detailed articles present a diverse range of historical and social-scientific perspectives, offering a comprehensive understanding of the complex dynamics at play. Each case study sheds light on a unique aspect of the mixed economies of welfare in borderland areas, collectively proposing a framework for analysing the intricate influence of welfare providers on children’s well-being in the intermediary spaces.

Contentious politics in the borderlands: How nonviolence and migrant characteristics affect public attitudes

New political issues and opportunities lead new actors into contentious politics. This article studies one such case: transnational migrants making claims and engaging in collective action when traversing state borders. As global migration flows and accompanying political backlash has grown since the mid-2010s, borders have increasingly become sites of contention between groups of migrants seeking entry and state agents attempting to refuse it. Media coverage and elite discourse also has focused on contentious border crossings, with implications for public attitudes toward migration. In this setting, public attitudes toward migrants should vary based on the migrants’ tactics and characteristics. We expect migrants engaging in nonviolent resistance to security forces will win more public support than those engaging in violence. Migrant characteristics – claims or motives for migration and ethnic identity – should also affect support. Survey experiments in the United States and Mexico containing fictionalized vignettes of a contentious event at the countries’ shared land border show strikingly similar results: migrant nonviolent resistance, compared to violent confrontations, reduces support for deportation and increases beliefs that migrants contribute to society. These effects are consistent across party lines and border proximity. Neither migrants’ claims nor migrants’ ethnic identity affect public support in the context of a contentious event.

Geotechnical Justification for Designing Landslide Prevention Measures

Abstract When designing anti-landslide measures, slope stability assessment is an important factor and is determined by conducting comprehensive engineering and geological studies on a slope with potential landslide risks. The results of correct engineering and geological justification for the design of anti-landslide measures lead to the preservation of the structure and safe operation of infrastructure facilities. Our experience shows that to eliminate the negative effects of landslide processes, it is necessary to accurately determine the engineering and geological conditions of the slope, including the stability of the slope, taking into account natural dynamic phenomena (seismicity of the territory and tectonic processes) and, if possible, to see the complete elimination of the causes that lead to landslide processes when developing anti-landslide measures. To achieve these goals, the geotechnical justification of the design is the only correct solution. Geotechnical justification of protective measures intended to protect the structural elements of the Baku-Russian Federation State Border highway, which is part of the north-south transport corridor and passes through the foot of a potentially landslide-hazardous slope west of the city of Shabran, is one of the most important conditions that increase the effectiveness of these measures. On a slope located 1500 meters southwest of the current research area, the results of our scientific research were not properly utilized and many of our warnings were not heeded, resulting in a landslide during construction, leading to serious damage to the road's structural elements (Fig. 1) and additional costs. This event once again confirms that landslides are the most common natural and man-made processes that pose a threat to the safe operation of infrastructure facilities, civil and industrial construction in mountainous and foothill areas (Shiraliyev et al., 2024)

The Warsaw Governorship General as a Transit Destination for Emigration from the Russian Empire in the Late 19th – Early 20th Centuries

The Warsaw Governorship General played a significant role in the illegal emigration from the Russian Empire, which became a significant state problem at the turn of the XIX–XX centuries. Based on pre-revolutionary legislation and a wide range clerical work documents from the archives of Russia and Poland, the peculiarities of crossing the state border within the Warsaw Governorship General up to the outbreak of the First World War are considered. The proximity to German ports on the Baltic Sea, the existence of extensive networks of emigration offices, the difficulty of legal emigration, the absence of natural barriers and the unsatisfactory state of border protection led most emigrants to choose an illegal crossing of the border. The authorities of the Russian Empire have developed an extensive system of norms regulating the border regime in the Warsaw Governorship General. The rules established to simplify cross-border contacts served to those who, pretended to be residents of the border strip, illegally crossed abroad. The connivance of officials contributed to this. The local population was also involved in the organization of illegal emigration and helped to supply emigrants with legal documents for the right to leave the empire.

Freedom of movement in Fortress Europe: campaigning for refugees and migrants in the 1990s

ABSTRACT This article argues for the importance of Europe in the 1990s for understanding the UK’s changing immigration policy and the development of campaigns of resistance. The creation of the European Union and a common market brought with it the threat of common immigration policies and ‘harmonisation’. As the borders of European states shifted, so too did bordering regimes and the policing of the (migrant) crisis. The 1990s, and particularly 1992, represented a juncture in migration and mobility across the 12 member states: who was going to be free to move across this single market of labour, capital and goods? Who would get to belong to Europe? The article explores shifting understandings of Britain’s responsibilities towards refugees, asylum seekers and migrants. The restrictions of Fortress Europe and the ‘new European racism’ were met with substantial resistance. Despite differences in politics, audiences and supporters, what campaigners—from NGO reformers to more radical activists—held in common was the mobilisation of ‘rights’ as a language and resource for claim-making in the British and European state beyond the boundaries of citizenship. The tension between rights as minimum individual standards or radical, collective futures can be traced through those fighting against Fortress Europe.

Criminal liability for human trafficking in the context of the war in Ukraine: Challenges and impact

Martial law and travel restrictions for citizens aged 18 to 60 were introduced after Russia's actions against Ukraine, but exceptions to this rule quickly emerged due to the potential negative consequences for the economy, politics and humanitarian situation. Despite this, society still faces difficulties related to the restriction of fundamental human rights. The study is important because of the increase in criminal behaviour associated with illegal crossing of the Ukrainian border during the conflict. The effectiveness of measures to counter this phenomenon and the socio-economic consequences for Europe can be determined by comparing them to European standards. This comparative analysis will also help to develop recommendations for improving legislation and international cooperation in this area. The research methods used in this study include systemic and structural, formal legal, comparative legal, logical and semantic, dialectical, sociological, statistical, empirical, and analytical. The purpose of this study is to analyse criminal liability for illegal crossing of the State border of Ukraine in the context of the military situation and to identify ways to improve legislation and international cooperation to effectively counter this phenomenon.