Crisis in Ukraine does not bring back Cold War borders

The currently on-going world conference of the Association for Borderlands Studies (ABS) presents new research findings on the formation and change of borders in the areas of the former Soviet Union.

Taking place consecutively in Joensuu, Finland, and St Petersburg, Russia, on 9–13 June 2014, the ABS world conference addresses some of hottest topics in international relations when it comes to post-Soviet borders. The conference presents the results of the first phase of the EUBORDERSCAPES project, funded by the EU, shedding light on the background of the Ukraine crisis from a multitude of perspectives. The project involves both Ukrainian and Russian researchers.

According to University of Eastern Finland Professor Ilkka Liikanen, leader of the project's work package on post-Soviet borders, Russia's aggression in the Crimea and its statements about the situation in eastern Ukraine mark a fundamental breaking with a leading principle of regional order, that is, the integrity of the internal administrative borders of the former Soviet Union.

"Russia's statements have, for quite some time now, emphasised geopolitical tensions and military threats, especially in connection to NATO enlargement. Lately this rhetoric has been increasingly supplemented by concern for "fellow countrymen" outside Russia's borders. This means that Russia's policy has significantly departed from those visions of regional cooperation which have been highlighted in, for example, cross-border programmes implemented with the EU," Professor Liikanen says.

"In the light of the events in Ukraine it is clear that the end of the Cold War did not mark an all-embracing turn towards globalisation, closer integration between countries and lowering of borders," he continues.

However, Professor Liikanen also finds it equally clear that the situation in Ukraine does not mark simply a definite end of an era and the return of the Cold War and borders such as the Iron Curtain.

"Russia's economy and future are tied to global networks. The closing of borders would lead to an inevitable financial crisis. Furthermore, today's Russia is not the political monolith the Soviet Union was, as there are different political emphases even in the country's leadership, and civic opinion needs to be taken into consideration in decision-making. Over the past decades, Russian people have gained experience of travelling and engaging in cross-border cooperation with their neighbours. It is thus unlikely that they'd like to witness the return of the Cold War borders.”

"Although Russia's aggression in Ukraine works like a self-fulfilling prophesy and pushes the discussion on borders to emphasise geopolitical oppositions, the highlighting of military security has, even now, parallel and opposite tendencies which, in the long run, make it possible to return to policy that emphasises regional cooperation."

For further information, please contact:

Professor Ilkka Liikanen, tel. +358504394477, ilkka.liikanen(at)uef.fi

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