Development Of Borderlands Research Articles

Dangers and Opportunities in the Development of Borderlands: the Case of the Warmia and Mazury Region (Selected Issues)

The article deals with the issue of dangers and opportunities in the development of the Warmia and Mazury region in the context of being in the neighbourhood of the Kaliningrad region of the Russian Federation. The aim of the article is to present selected conditions of functioning of the Warmia and Mazury region as a border region neighbouring the Kaliningrad region of the Russian Federation, as well threats related to the military potential of the Kaliningrad region. The border location of the Warmia and Mazury region deepens its peripherality both from the point of view of economic development and its influence on the policy of the Polish central authorities. A significant barrier to the development of the region was the introduction of the visa regime on the Polish-Russian border before Poland’s accession to the European Union. Another factor in cross-border relations was the introduction of the local border traffic mechanism, which facilitated border crossings from 2012 to 2016. Since 2014, Polish-Russian relations have been deteriorating at the political level. This has made it necessary to treat the Kaliningrad region as a potential source of danger to Poland. The Russian invasion of Ukraine, launched in February 2022, further aggravated this trend.

Sustainable transport for border areas in the European Union

This paper seeks to offer a critical discussion of conceptual ideas of sustainability that link transport with borderlands. In recent decades, European border regions have been subject to a steady process of transformation. New sustainable ideas are among the most important paradigms where the future development of borderlands is concerned, with transport considered key. In this paper, the author seeks to demonstrate the way in which sustainability has been characterised by environmental, economic and social aspects that each have their own special relevance to borderland development of transport.

Selected aspects of the development of cross-border partnerships based on projects co-financed by the European Union

Este artigo apresenta as condições para o desenvolvimento de parcerias transfronteiriças com base em projetos transfronteiriços, cofinanciados pela União Europeia. Também descreve o papel dos fundos estruturais como instrumento de apoio à integração e desenvolvimento das fronteiras, e discute as principais condições para o desenvolvimento de uma eficaz parceria com base nesses projetos. Além disso, apresenta as principais etapas da implementação dos projetos transfronteiriços e os critérios para uma gestão eficaz dos projetos transfronteiriços, cofinanciados pela União Europeia.

The Border as a Resource for the Development of Borderland: A Comparative Analysis of Two Polish Urban Centres at the External Border of the European Union

Abstract The entry into force of the Agreement between the Republic of Poland and the Russian Federation on visa- free movement in 2012 caused an increase in border permeability, and hence a sudden increase in border crossings. The border which used to divide the neighbouring states started linking them instead. Crossing the border became part of the everyday life of local communities. Actors on both sides benefited from the commercial services of the other country. For Kaliningrad citizens, border-crossing points became gates to Europe, and for Poles, a resource improving the quality of life via petty trade. The aim of this article is to compare two border cities: Braniewo, a town located in the immediate vicinity of the border-crossing point, and Tri-City, which has become a new border centre after the introduction of small border traffic. Two viewpoints on the effect of local border traffic are presented. The first is the perspective of a typical border city. The other is that of the effect of an increase in border permeability on a major urban centre - Tri-City.

Cross-Border Trades and Commerce between Thailand and Neighboring Countries: Policy Implications for Establishing Special Border Economic Zones

Regional economic integration leads to closer interdependence within the Greater Mekong sub-region (GMS) especially for trade and commerce. Contributing factors to cross-border trade expansion between Thailand and four neighboring countries, Cambodia, Lao PDR, Malaysia and Myanmar (CLMM) have been studied, as well as an analysis of its pattern and trend utilizing time series data from1996–2012. This study found a rapid increase of local and regional cross-border trade, cross-border shopping and mobility of people. Cross-border traded goods are mainly produced in Bangkok and its vicinity and the eastern region of Thailand. Thai border cities currently play major roles as distribution centers; while industrial development along Thai border regions has not progressed enough to capture the full potential of this trade. The development of emerging border economic zones (BEZs) could be a means as well as a strategy not only to minimize interregional and intra-regional disparities within Thailand but also to foster integrated borderland development with less developed countries surrounding Thailand. Therefore, this study aimed to identify prospective locations for joint border economic zones across Thailand to suggest an enabling policy in realizing BEZs.

A regionális integrációk hatása a határ menti területek fejlődésére – az amerikai–mexikói és a német–lengyel példa

A tanulmány egy speciális megközelítés mentén vizsgálja a regionális integrációk hatását a határ menti területek fejlődésére. Az új gazdaságföldrajz releváns elméleti következtetéseiből kiindulva bemutatja a NAFTA és az Európai Unió keretében létrejövő területi dinamizmusokat, úgy hogy közben a látványos átalakuláson átesett amerikai–mexikói, és a nagy várakozások elé néző német–lengyel határ menti terület átalakulásának kritikai elemzését végzi el. Konklúzióként pedig megfogalmazza, hogy a regionális integrációkban nem jelölhető ki homogén fejlődési út a határ menti területek fejlődésére, így az új gazdaságföldrajz modellszerű megközelítéseit is fenntartásokkal kell kezelnünk.

Cultural-geographical aspects in the development of borderland peripheries: an analysis of selected elements of territorial identity among residents of the Sušicko region

Among consequences of the new regional geography, marginality is not perceived as only the economic phenomenon. This article focuses on the socio-cultural dimension of marginality, using the concept of regional identity in a periphery, specifically in Sušice near Czechia’s borderlands. This means that both the consciousness of inhabitants in the region as well as the identity of the region itself are explored. Elements and processes involved in the formation of regional identity are discussed as a consequence of the regional development of the peripheral borderlands. The concept of regional identity seems to be crucial to any endogenous regional development strategy and can be successfully used in regional planning and territorial marketing as well as tourism management. In particular, any unique traits in peripheries, at the local or regional level, provide resources for future development amidst the generally limited development potential of peripheries and their communities. The article indicates that inhabitants can perceive the spatial determination of the model periphery. In contrast, certain non-marginal aspects of the region are also recognized by the local community. These non-marginal parameters form the essential elements of the local community’s regional identity and, according to public opinion, present opportunities for tourism development.

The Regional Development of Borderlands : an Explorative Study in the Franco-Italian Alps

Despite the important influence borders have on the development of borderlands, regional geography does not have a theory on this influence. In this paper, the authors implement Fischer's theory on regional development in the framework of a study of four municipalities in the Franco-Italian Alps. The authors point out that the effect of the border depends on the capability of regional Systems to cross the border. This capability in itself depends on the characteristics of the border. Furthermore the authors point at the importance of the way local actors adapt to external stimuli. After a brief overview of the development of the French municipalities of Briançon and Modane and the Italian municipalities of Susa and Bardonècchia, the hypotheses are tested. Recognizing the necessity of more refined studies on the subject the authors conclude that Fischer's theory is a very valuable one in the study of borderlands.

The politics of belonging: complexities of identity in the catalan borderlands

The rise of the European nation–state system profoundly influenced the map of linguistic and cultural minorities. Catalonia in northeastern Spain is no exception. The consolidation of the Spanish and French kingdoms during the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries left Catalan speakers without political and cultural sovereignty. Furthermore, in the Treaty of the Pyrenees of 1659, the Catalan homeland els Països Catalans was divided by the Franco–Spanish border. Today, Catalan culture and politics enjoy increasing latitude in both Spain and France. This has encouraged various forms of cross–border co–operation in the Catalan borderlands. It has also led many Catalan nationalists to expect still greater political autonomy. Some activists have voiced claims for independence and even the reincorporation of the Spanish (el Principat) and French Catalonias (Catalunya Nord). However, political tensions regarding the borderland's development exist between the local actors and the Spanish and French national governments, as well as between Catalan nationalists and the population at large. This article examines these tensions, first by looking at cross–border co–operation efforts in Catalonia, and second by assessing the visible markers of identity that Catalan nationalists have placed in the border landscapes. These are contrasted with the results of a survey charting the opinions and attitudes of ‘ordinary’ Catalans. The article argues that there are significant cleavages among Catalans, and that the era of the nation–states has left a legacy of complex loyalties at international frontiers.

Questions of symmetry: programme experiences featuring northern borderland development

In the North European border region between the Nordic countries and northwestern Russia, much of cross–border development continues to be steered by public authorities and channelled through programmes which are dominated by public actors–even though the participation of private partners such as businesses and various non–governmental organisations is strongly encouraged. This article examines one case of Northern European peripheral cross–border development by focusing attention on institutionalised co–operation programmes. This chosen approach brings to the fore some of the persistent obstacles and challenges of these development initiatives. Particular attention is paid to institutional conditions of and for collaboration, including administrative and legislative systems or economic and governance mechanisms, social structures, institutional systems and general living conditions across national boundaries. Symmetry between the participating countries’ institutional environments is perceived as a necessity for the construction of balanced interdependence as well as the increasing involvement of a variety of actors (e.g. private partners) in the creation of a functional borderland.

Cross-Border Cooperation as a Constituent of the Regional Development of the Czech-Bavarian Borderland

The article presents the development of the Czech-Bavarian borderland as a comparison of the preliminary results of the 2001 people, flats and houses census with the 1991 one. The mentioned comparison shows a certain revival in the West Bohemia borderland. Short-term features based on substantial changes of the situation are still prevailing within this revival. From the long-term point of view and in connection with the Czech Republic's preparation for the entry to the European Union, the development of the borderland region is not sufficient.

Questions of Symmetry: Programme Experiences Featuring Northern Borderland Development

Questions of Symmetry: Programme Experiences Featuring Northern Borderland Development

A Borderland Development Bank: An inquiry into the issues

Since organization of International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (The World Bank) in 1944, a large number of development oriented financial institutions have emerged throughout world. By applying their unique form of intermediation to development problems, these Development Banks (DBs), as they have come to be known, have become a major catalyst in process of economic development. Over years, numerous proposals for funding borderlands development have surfaced but few of them have directly addressed possibility of establishing a Borderland Development Bank (BDB). A related proposal was outlined at a conference of U.S.-Mexico border state governors by Carols G. Velez-Ibanez (1983). The proposal called for establishment of a Borderlands Development Foundation which would assist area development in a number of ways; including, stabilizing region's infrastructure, environment, and population movements. It was also suggested that such a foundation might develop a data base for use in planning and in monitoring demographic, economic, political and social trends in region. Unfortunately, this rather promising proposal has yet to be realized. This study examines contributions to development that could be made by a BDB, and potential public support for such an institution. If a BDB could be organized in such a way as to minimize Mexican fear of U.S. domination of bank's activities, it could play a major role in economic development of region and strengthen what Hansen (1986b) describes as the many interdependencies that exist between Mexican and U.S. borderlands. Most of development proposals, including government sponsored commissions, have been unilateral, focusing on needs of only one side of border, which may explain why they have thus far not been very successful. Perhaps a BDB which enjoyed bilateral public and private sponsorship, and whose mandate was to foster economic development on both sides of border would stand a better chance of success. The first section of this article discusses nature of a development bank, second section discusses possible impediments to growth along border, third section discusses BDB as a possible solution to these impediments, and last section provides a summary and concluding remarks.

Book Reviews

Book reviewed in this article: City, Region, and North American Hierarchy Benjamin Higgins, The Rise—And Fall? of Montreal: A Case Study of Urban Growth, Regional Economic Expansion and National Development. The Quality of Community Life David Popenoe, Private Pleasure, Public Plight: American Community Life in Comparative Perspective. Rural America Dale Jahr, Jerry W. Johnson, and Ronald Wimberley, eds., New Dimensions in Rural Policy: Building upon Our Heritage. East Meets West: Theory and Practice Don R. McCreary, Japanese‐U.S. Business Negotiations: A Cross‐Cultural Study. National Issues along the Rio Grande Lay James Gibson and Alfonso Corona Renteria, eds., The U.S. and Mexico: Borderland Development and the National Economies.