DECONSTRUCTING

 GLOBAL  FAULTLINES  
 
Introduc7on   Patterns of international diffusion have been accelerated both at the regional and international levels. However,
the historic geo-political fissures that remain have become barriers to diffusion. This paper highlights two locales of historic instability (Central Eastern Europe and
South West Asia). These locations certainly hold some measure of indigenous obstacles to globalization, which on occasion has been overcome by force, where
others resemble envelopment more through mutual trade and temperance. Their difficulty with integrating globalization aside, these sub-regions’ troubles and
conflicts stem from deeper issues. Research shows that these rather fragile case studies have their origins in pressures of external control; and that rather than
they being insurmountable, they may be mended through locally sustained in(ter)dependence.
 
Curzon’s  Line  in  the  East   Durand’s  Line  for  the  West  
   

The Curzon Line represents the divide long endured between Central and Eastern
Europe, between East and West. The task yet to be tackled is how to bring this
divided “Crush Zone” into one more ‘functional.’ As the EU has inadequately dealt
with the desires of these states, upon the principles of subsidiarity local states
should create an environment more conducive to integrating their common
subregional interests, concentrating on linking local firms in key industries. Taken
together, deconstructing the Curzon Line, in the construction of partnerships, could
come to resemble clusters of interrelated firms which could then later spillover into
other industries and onto other levels of cooperation.
The Durand line is a long, porous border between Afghanistan and Pakistan, and
is a product of great game rivalry between imperial Britain and Russia through
1893. Over the years, this border has become a compression zone between
Afghanistan and Pakistan, effecting bilateral relations and regional stability, though
links at the functional level have existed throughout history. As such, spheres of
socialization across tribal lines should be sought to reduce the exploitation of the
tribal structure as diversionary politics to counter the policies of proxy warfare
between Kabul and Islamabad. Eventually, the two states could expand other
functional areas of cooperation potentially in trade, transit, and mineral
explorations.

Conclusion  
These two case studies help to show that subregions across Eurasia’s faultlines have the capability to become more stable and better integrated within their own
regions, as well as a better partner in the world of globalization. The means to do so lies in constructing locally clustered social and economic interdependencies.
Cross-border social programs would provide a supportive foundation. And as the subregions are to grow in stability, or merely as a means to underwrite its long-
term legitimacy, local stakeholders would necessarily allow for outside participation – so that the subregion may serve as a desirable gateway of commerce and
activity between greater regions.
 Aaron  G.  Sander        Tasawar  Baig  
 Graduate  Program  in  Interna7onal  Studies  (GPIS)        Karakoram  Interna7onal  University/  
 Old  Dominion  University        GPIS,  Old  Dominion  University  
 asand018@odu.edu        tbaig001@odu.edu