On Border Energy and Cross-Border Communication in Geoeconomics and Geopolitics

Abstract

A number of axioms related to the ontological status of the so-called “social energy”, which remains a controversial area of scientific knowledge, are postulated. Such energy cannot be measured either in amperes or kilocalories, but the energy costs that manifest themselves in social communities in the form of enthusiasm, enthusiasm, aggression, bitterness and other forms are not only special, but sometimes colossal. According to the authors, the energy of “red-hot” political and administrative borders, as well as the energy of cross-border contacts in the modern world, is associated with social energy. Attention is focused on the fact that the concept of “state border” is not limited to the legal meaning. It is also a social and political structure, which is associated with the emotions of people living on both sides of it, especially in cases of contradictions between neighboring ethnic groups. Geoeconomics and geopolitics were chosen as the “polygons” of the study. The marginal stratification of society is also considered as a generator of social energy, when large social groups find themselves “on the borders”, “on the fields” or between strata. It is noted that the centers of marginality have their own boundaries, possess with their own boundaries, have a boundary energy, which is reflected in the specifics of frontier communication. The contradictory connection of geopolitics and geo-economics is fixed, which generates social energy with a “minus” sign. An increase in the “degree” of social tension often occurs with the so-called “border trade” practiced by the population of neighboring states. The development of this type of trade in Russia was strongly influenced by the worst financial and economic situation of the neighboring countries, the depressive nature of their economies. The stated problem is directly related to military conflicts between states and other armed conflicts (“energy of war”); tribal separatism and intertribal clashes (tribalism in Africa); territories not controlled by former metropolises, etc.