Regions, Borders and Networks

Abstract

The title of the conference "Borders and Regions" was considered by the majority of the lecturers as problems of a region at the border of a larger region (country, European Union). This lecture deals rather with the relation of a region to its own border: sets out the main functions of the frontiers of a region and concludes how certain networks can help to fulfil the same tasks.

Nowadays both in strict sense and figuratively there is a shift from using sharp administrative borders towards creating indistinct frontiers. Sharp spatial borders become concentration of tension rather then solving problems (iron curtain, US–Mexican border etc.). As an analogy we can also refer to the general shift from regulation with sharp administrative limits towards market-type regulation with softer frontiers (in economy, environmental protection etc.).

Over the roles supplied by a frontier zone (buffer, filter and barrier) it is a characteristic spatial structure within the region that has a chance to select the external effects arriving to the region. The physical networks that are spatial imprints of the existing relation systems have four possible roles as internal provision, external accessibility, to assure through-cut and of avoiding a region.

The condition of the good operation of a region is the good local provision, that is the existence of appropriate internal networks. Out of its existence the pattern of the structure is also determining: creating appropriate internal transport network in a region it is an important target to built out multilateral net structures so, that a similar provisional position be able to decrease (and not increase) the differences originated from the position of there different localities.

The measure of good accessibility is the multilaterality and multidirectionality of relations. There are two important levels of accessibility links to be distinguished: the direct main, large-scale axes and the transborder extension of the subordinated internal provision networks. In case of similarly developed linked regions, we can expect that the advantages due to the improvement of the relation will also be symmetrical between the regions. Improving accessibility between developed and less developed regions, it is not so clear, that the result is similar: we also have to take into account whether the internal structure in the underdeveloped side able to develop at a measure needed by externally controlled changes.

In order to defend and develop the internal structure, the through traffic crossing the region has to be led with minimised harmfulness and with minimised troubling of internal relations. We have to learn, that it is impossible to eliminate through traffic, but on the other side it is not at all an aim to attract more of it into the region.

With the metaphors Island, Basin and Crossroad we try to describe the relation between a region and its environs. The Island represents the isolated region without external relations. A Basin disposes with clearly interpretable frontiers, while there are gates along this frontier that are able to both let and filter the inflow. In the same time the internal structure is also able to select: there are incoming elemen[ easily melting into the structure, while other elements are not. The Crossroad is a part of the space where the internal structures have no role or importance; everything serves those arriving, everything is determined by external structures.

By forming the transport network we can influence the endowments of a region. In connection with that task now in Hungary (and in Eastern Central Europe) we just have to strengthen the Basin-characteristics and as we are able we have to decrease the danger to be involved into a Crossroad role. Understanding such role of the networks gives us a possibility that the networks, in frame of a conscious development policy be ready to take over a part from the role of the frontiers and by that development a functional harmony could be created between the tasks of the frontiers and the internal structures.