Configuration and Functioning of Social Networks in the Border Region

Abstract

Using the methodology of actor-network analysis the author identifies configuration and dynamics of informal social networks in the border region. The study is based on the example of mechanisms and practices of importing fruits and vegetables from Heihe to Blagoveshchensk and relationships methods in the «Chinese» market in Blagoveshchensk. It is shown that the mechanism of fruit and vegetables’ import to Blagoveshchensk is an informal social network with «Russian» and «Chinese» firms as actors. However, there are other actors involving in goods’ exchange and money flows: «Tajik», «Uzbek», «Azerbaijan» and «Armenian» companies. The analysis is performed for two periods of legislative regulation of foreign trade, each of which differs in the nature of links, number of actors and their positions. The study reveals the fact that social networks of import belong to networks of a higher order and they provide not only the city with fruit and vegetables, but also other regions (in particular, Yakutia). The paper shows that «Chinese» firms control flows of goods and money so they occupy the central position within identified social networks. These networks and control mechanisms keep up the stability of informal trade of migrants and failures of formal regulation

Keywords

• social networks
• actor-network analysis
• informal economy
• «Chinese» market
• import of fruit and vegetables
• Blagoveshchensk
• Heihe