АУТОР / AUTHOR(S): Vladimir Kolosov 
DOI: 10.46793/CSGE5.71VK
САЖЕТАК / ABSTRACT:
The system of borders and their transformation under the influence of integration and globalization, the relationship of material, formal (established by legal acts) and ethnocultural, linguistic, mental, and other invisible, but often very significant borders, remain in the focus of geographical studies. The “horizontal” interdependence between borders of the same level, for example, state borders is obvious. However, there is also “vertical” interdependence between borders of different levels. I wondered why the research field of border studies is still limited exclusively to state borders. At all levels the functions of formal borders are similar (isomorphic), but performed in different combinations. Each state, regional, and municipal boundaries perform the function of organizing and controlling the territory, delimiting its legal and normative space, including the provision of public services. Institutionalized boundaries of all levels enhance spatial contrasts and contribute to the effects of peripheralization. The objective of the paper is to show the isomorphism of formal borders and their impact on the economy and everyday practices of population using the cases of a few typical regions of Russia. On the one hand, thanks to the barrier and constitutive functions of borders, they contribute to the leveling of the socio-economic landscape within their limits. On the other hand, the same functions enhance the contrasts between neighbouring territories. The properties of borders also include the ability to attract or repel certain types of activity, and to cause or enhance the peripherality of adjacent areas. The contradiction between the continuity of physical and social space and the barrier function of borders determines the “cross-border” practices of population, generates commodity flows, and other similar interactions between neighbouring territories. In turn, interactions dictate the need for cooperation between them to solve a wide range of problems that are cross-border in nature. However, in Russia such cooperation exists practically only at the interstate level. Our analysis of the newest regional and municipal strategic documents proves that this need is either not realized or is absent.
КЉУЧНЕ РЕЧИ / KEYWORDS:
borders; isomorphism; Russia