Mechanisms for capacity building of border regions through cross-border cooperation

In this study we address the problem of finding mechanisms for capacity building of border areas. We have identified the obstacles to their development: prohibitions on economic activities in border areas, relatively large military forest and land holdings, and potential economic pressure from neighbouring states on businesses and population. The main preferences for their development: interests of neighbouring states in resources and markets formation of transport corridors; intermunicipal, socio-cultural and ethno-religious cooperation. We considered the processes of administrative reassignment of regions between federal districts as a mechanism of problem-based management for regional spatial development by grouping the regions with similar problems. We also discussed the examples of such mechanisms (and their limitations) to increase the economic and social attractiveness of border areas -including territories of priority development and preferential mortgages. The scientific novelty of the study lies in the use of an integrated approach to capacity building of border areas through consistent administrative, organizational economic and social mechanisms. This approach can be applied to the design of strategic planning programmes for the spatial and socio-economic development of border areas, including through cross-border cooperation.

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