Question.
Discuss the nature of international conflicts in the context of frontiers, boundaries, and buffer zones. ( 63rd BPSC, 2019)
Analyze the characteristics of frontiers, boundaries, and buffer zone by giving examples. ( 65th BPSC geography)
Answer.
Frontier, boundary, and buffer zone are three names for the same thing that are associated with land or sea area and serve to separate the sovereignty rights of countries. Most international conflicts relate to the disputed frontier, border, and buffer zones. The conflict associated with this is often between two neighboring countries, but in reality, it is very complex, it involves the intervention of many countries, especially the support of big powers like the United States and Russia.
Before discussing the nature of international disputes, let us understand the concept of frontier, boundary, and buffer zone.
Boundary:
A boundary is a clearly defined line between two states.
for example,
- The Line of Control between India and Pakistan in the LOC-Jammu and Kashmir.
- Radcliffe Line between India and Pakistan.
Frontiers:
- The frontier is the wide area (not the line) of the border between two states. This area is not often used.
Buffer Zones:
The buffer zone is wider than the frontier but unlike frontiers, this area is used.
For example,
- during medieval times, the Himalayas served as a buffer zone between India and Tibet; And Tibet acted as a buffer zone between India and China.
International conflicts in the context of frontiers, boundaries, and buffer zones:
There are often conflicts between neighboring countries to control the frontier areas.
for example,
- Practically parts of the Ladakh region are bordered between India and China with some small mountains; Both countries are competing to control these frontier areas, due to which the armies of both countries have also come face to face.
There are international conflicts to control the buffer zone;
for example,
- The South China Sea used to act as a buffer zone between China and neighboring countries (such as Vietnam, and Japan), but now all the coastal countries of the South China Sea are struggling to control the maximum areas.
- Before 1947, Jammu and Kashmir were buffer zone between India and Pakistan. Which is the reason for the conflict between both countries today.
- Nepal is located between India and China, it can also be called a buffer zone country and to maintain their influence in Nepal, India, and China interfere in Nepal's affairs.
- Hans Island, located between Canada and Greenland, serves as a buffer zone and is disputed by both countries.
The international struggle to control strategic space on the buffer zones, frontiers, or boundaries:
- The Glorioso Islands are located in the Indian Ocean near Madagascar. It is controlled by France but claimed by Madagascar.
- There is a dispute in the Kala Pani area between India and Nepal to control the strategic situation.
There are fewer international conflicts on the borders and more international conflicts are seen in the frontier and buffer zones.
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