Boundaries and Frontiers – UGC NET Geography – Notes

International boundary making starts with the intention of two or more countries of boundary delimitation and/or demarcation. These terms are ruled by their function like separating, developing or connecting the different countries. The initial intention is usually identified by a treaty or agreement.

Frontier

In the past, during the political evolutions of a state, states were separated by areas, not lines. The function of the intervening area was to prevent direct contact between the neighboring states and it was referred to as a frontier.

• A frontier is the political and geographical area near or beyond a boundary. The term came from French in the 15th century, with the meaning “borderland”—the region of a country that fronts on another country (see also marches).
• A frontier can also be referred to as a “front”. A difference has also been established in academic scholarship between Frontier and Border, the latter denoting a fixed, rigid and clear-cut form of state boundary.
• A frontier, can, thus, be defined as a politico-geographical area, lying beyond defined borders of a political unit into which expansion could take place (for instance, European penetration into the ZuluNatal area and, in modern times, Antarctica). It is a physical and moral concept which implied looking outwards and moving outwards.

It is not an abstract concept but a ‘fact of life’—a manifestation of the tendency for spontaneous growth of ecumene.

Accordingly there are three stages in the evolution of a frontier,

• designated zone of influence of different physical phenomena;
• anthropological-geographical concept;
• political frontier.

Boundary

It implies the physical limit of sovereignty and jurisdiction of a state; it is a manifestation of integration and is oriented inwards.

Halford J.Mackinder was speaking at the close of the most intensive period of boundary construction in the earth’s history, a period which had created a ‘close political system’ including even barren tropical deserts and Antarctica. A boundary is an imaginary line separating one political unit, such as country or state, from another. Sometimes this align with a natural geographic feature like a river to form a border or barrier between nations.

Boundary implies the physical limit of sovereignty and jurisdiction of a state a nation. It is a manifestation of integration and is oriented of inwards it is an appropriate concept for the modern state where all that is writhen the boundary is bound together by common law, economy, physical features, idea or creed with a government or central authority in effective control of the territory and activities within the boundaries. The example of the boundary between Spain and Portugal.

Its characteristics are as follows:

• A boundary is inward or inner oriented.
• A boundary is a centripetal force, because it is manifestation of integration.
• A boundary is created and maintained by the will of the government.
• A boundary is well defined and regulated by law and rules. So it possesses uniform characteristics.
• A boundary is a separating factor, which is moveable.
• It is still possible to recognize frontier characteristics in boundaries, especially in sparsely populated regions, such as deserts. This leads to minimum friction. An example is the boundary between Spain and Portugal.
• It is an appropriate concept for the modern state where all that is within the boundary is bound together by common law, economy, physical features, idea or creed with a government or central authority in effective control of the territory and activities within the boundaries.
• It may be reached by expanding into frontiers when the natural limits are reached. For instance, the westward expansions of the USA into desert frontiers till the coastlines were reached.
• It is an outer line of effective control of the central government keeping the enemy out and the resources in
• It is a legal-political phenomenon which is not created but fixed by the political decision makers.
• It signifies differences in goals, ideology, structure, interests etc. from those of the neighboring states.