Two Epochs of Norwegian‐Russian trade relations: From symmetry to asymmetry

Questions of symmetry: programme experiences featuring northern borderland development

“…The constitution of a common border region necessarily requires balanced and functional ties between the different actors across the borderline. Balance here refers to symmetry of operating conditions and actors, their equal opportunities for and access to resources as the prerequisite for co-operation, whereas functional ties denote continuity and stability of interaction (see also Thuen (1993) on symmetry). Without these, the building of a region remains a mere discursive exercise, which, even though it weighs much in the process, does not suffice alone.…”

The Significance of Borders in the East European Transition

“…This endeavour demands certain skills and types of knowledge, some kind of organization, and, one may add, some typical personality characteristics to be successful. In this article my locus of study is the Bulgarian city of Varna on the Black Sea coast, but I also draw upon observations and analyses by colleagues devoted to the study of this phenomenon in other places as well (Konstantinov, 1994;Bantle and Egbert, 1996;Konstantinov et al, 1996;1998;Thuen, 1993). 3 The phenomenon of trader-tourism is not new to the post-communist era, but it has become much more widespread.…”

“…Their problem was that in an affluent economy such as the Norwegian, most of these goods were hardly in demand and could only be sold because of the low prices at which they were offered. However, the discrepancy between the rouble and the Norwegian kroner/US dollar made it worthwhile to exchange the small amounts earned into dollars and transfer the hard currency back to Russia where its purchasing power was considerably higher (Thuen, 1993).…”

“…However, local merchants also complained that the trader-tourists, offering very low prices for their commodities compared to the Norwegian average, represented a type of competition within certain sectors of the commodity market (souvenirs, gifts) which they were not able to beat. Local merchants' associations thus imposed a certain pressure on government authorities to enforce legal restrictions on border-passing (Thuen, 1993). In this manner the formal regulations of border-passing (the normative rules) may be changed without prediction, and so may the informal procedures (the pragmatic rules) which pertain to their management.…”

“…The access to western countries may be restricted by the demand for a visa and a work permit, which in fact put an end to the Russian trader-tourism in Norway in 1992(Thuen, 1993).ß Joint Editors and Blackwell Publishers Ltd 1999…”