Crisis of Russian-Ukrainian relations: consequences for cross-border cooperation in Belgorod oblast
In the article, the current state and the dynamics of cross-border cooperation between Russia and Ukraine after the 2014 crisis events investigated on the case study of Belgorod and Kharkiv oblasts. The dynamics of the main socioeconomic indicators of neighboring regions under the impact of the crisis in mutual political relations is analyzed. It is revealed that the strengthening of barrier functions of the border leads to the reduction of bilateral interactions and the intensification of shadow forms of labor and entrepreneurial activity. The directions of cross-border population flows are analyzed, their asymmetry is shown. Four main dimensions of cross-border cooperation have been explored: infrastructural, institutional, economic and social. It is concluded that in the context of political crises the infrastructural and institutional dimensions of cooperation are influenced by external factors and are significantly transformed. At the same time, economic and social interactions although noticeably weaken, do not stop completely, keeping the possibilities for renewed cooperation under favorable conditions.