Economic and Geographical Structure of the Baltic Sea region

Abstract

New spatial forms of international economic cooperation are emerging in the region. The region is not homogeneous in terms of socioeconomic development, thus there are certain differences in dimensions and intensity of international cooperation. The author sets out to identify structural characteristics of the Baltic Sea region. This requires studying practices of transnational and transboundary cooperation and possibilities for their adoption in other regions of the world. An important characteristic of the Baltic Sea region is a considerable difference between its coastal territories, the fact that affects the development of multilateral relations. This article examines the most pronounced socioeconomic differences that should be taken into account when forecasting cooperation trends in the region, including those between the Baltic territories of Russia and their international partners.

Population Dynamics in the Coastal Urban Settlements of the Baltic Sea Region

“…An in-depth understanding of the development trajectories of the coastal urban settlements in the BSR during the post-Soviet period requires an accurate demarcation of the research area and careful data selection. The general criteria for including a region or a country into the BSR are extensively discussed in scholarly literature, including contemplations over the Baltic Sea catchment area limits, settlement patterns and others (Mezhevich et al, 2016;Palmowski and Tarkowski, 2018;Fedorov and Korneevets, 1999). The adopted definition of the BSR implies a study area that includes the entire territories of the Baltic States (Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania) and Scandinavia in its broad interpretation (Denmark, Finland, and Sweden), the northern lands of Germany (Mecklenburg-West Pomerania, Schleswig-Holstein) and Poland (Pomerania, West Pomerania), as well as the north-western part of Russia (the city of St. Petersburg, Leningrad region, Kaliningrad region) -see Figure 1.…”

“…The profound global geopolitical and geo-economic shifts of the late 20 thearly 21 st centuries have considerably transformed its socio-economic status affecting Russia and other former Soviet republics, countries of the socialist camp and post-industrial economies of Northern Europe. Scholars link the specific nature of the demographic and urbanization processes in the countries adjacent to the Baltic Sea to their macro-regional characteristics and to the fact that they are a part of the Baltic region (Fedorov et al, 2019;Kirch, 2018;Maksimtsev et al, 2017;Mezhevich et al, 2016;Palmowski and Tarkowski, 2018). The marine factor is an important prerequisite for the development of the BSR countries.…”

The economy of Russian Baltic regions: development level and dynamics, structure and international trade partners

“…The sanctions policy of Western countries against Russia has caused trade between Russia's Baltic regions and the other states of the Baltic macro-region to drop; mutual ties have lost their significance, and cooperation has declined. Both Russian and international publications on a unified Baltic macro-region have become less optimistic [15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25][26].…”

Port Reorganisation Revealing East-West Differentiation in the Baltic Sea Region

“…1. The Baltic Sea, a framework between homogeneity and complexity For many centuries, navigation routes have united peoples living around the Baltic Sea (Mezhevich, Kretinin, Fedorov, 2016). Sea transport is the central connecting link in the Baltic transport region.…”