Zsuzsa M.Csaszar

Andrea Kolutacz

 

UPOREDNA GEOGRAFSKA ANALIZA DRUŠTVENO-EKONOMSKIH PREOBRAŽAJA NA PODRUČJU ŽUPANIJE BARANJE I TUZLANSKOG KANTONA

 

DOI: 10.35666/28310438.2008.2.634

UDC: 911.3:338(439.127:497.6TK)

 

Abstract: Many see the future of Bosnia and Herzegovina in joining the European Union, which will be a long procedure. On the Balkan periphery of the Union, Hungary – especially the Southern Trnasdanubian Region – could take on the helping role in this. Tuzla canton (as a result of its geographical situation) is an important elements of the external relations strategy of Southern Transdanubia, therefore the analysis and multilateral recognition of its social-economical relations can be helpful in tightening the already existing bonds of economical, educational and cultural collaboration between the two regions, as well as in the development of new projects. The basis of cooperation between the two regions can be the historical traditions, the geopolitical situation, the given conditions by the main traffic routes and the mutual economical and political interests. At the beginning in the 1990s significant changes took place in the social and economical relations of Hungary and Bosnia and Herzegovina. Similar to Hungary, Bosnia and Herzegovina also has a traditional industrial-agricultural economy before, which had great influence on the function and exterior of the regional units. After 1991 both states – although for different reasons – underwent a change of structure, accompanied by similar chages in society. The purpose of our study is to discover the social-economical changes occuring in Baranya country and Tuzla canton after 1991 and their consequences by means of comparative analysis. The following facts could underline the comparison: the chosen regions have a peripheral location within their countries, having a underdeveloped network of traffic and infrastructure; the previously flourishing economy broke down in both areas, followed by similarly negative demographic procedures; the regional centers Pecs and Tuzla are both cities with universities and also function as the unquestionable economic, cultural-intellectucal and diplomatic sub-centers of their own region. Although Hungary and Bosnia and Herzegovina have developed under different social-economic conditions, the aim of both countries is the establishment of modern economic activity, to enable the creation of new workplaces and a faster regional development in both countries. Our goal is to disclose the tendencies the development of these two transforming regions could follow and to highlight the areas of further social-economic-educational-cultural cooperation. The exposure of the internal problematic issues includes practical results that can be utilized extensively by the persons involved in the economy, politics and higher education of these regions. Tightening the cooperation of these two regions and the elaboration of common strategies of development could lead to the dissolution of their peripheral position, the shaping of a common Euro-regional way of thinking, and also strengthening their role in bridging the gap between the Balkan and the EU, thus increasing their attractiveness.

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