Spatial economic and demographic development of border territories: modern regional studies approaches and practices

Abstract

In the system of modern scientific regional studies knowledge, one of the key areas is a comprehensive study of the development of border regions from assessing the dynamics of geopolitical, socio-economic, demographic processes in the border area to the development and formation of strategies for the spatial development of border territories. Border regions are defined as territories located on the outskirts of the state, which are part of it, but are more remote in relation to the central region of the state. The purpose of this article is to consider various domestic scientific sources on the specifics of the development of border regions and to identify, based on the use of a systemic analysis, the leading regional studies approaches and practices for strategizing spatial and demographic border development. Of particular importance are the monographs of Russian economists V. A. Shlyamin, N. P. Ryzhova, N. R. Vyazmina, sociologists and demographers Z. A. Danilova, G. V. Mazaev, A. N. Torenko. The article establishes that several conceptual approaches have been formed in the Russian system of regional studies knowledge, substantiating modern trends in the evolution of borderlands and providing practical recommendations for the integrated development of border territories. The regional studies approach with the dominant of economic strengthening of border territories concerns integration processes, foreign economic relations, elimination of unevenness, maintenance of economic security, development of large-scale border economic and territorial entities. The second regional studies approach is devoted to the formation of high-quality social infrastructure of the borderland, concerning the definition of the social mission of the border region, the search for social opportunities for effective border market development. The third regional studies approach concerns the solution of demographic problems of border territories and includes theoretical developments on strengthening the demographic potential of border areas, options for settlement systems, mechanisms for regulating migration processes in border regions.