Clearly defined international borders enable nations to peacefully manage their marginal territories, resolve territorial disputes without war, and capitalize on cross-border opportunities. But despite the importance of precise international boundaries, boundary conflicts still occur. Typically, these border disputes can be classified as definitional or locational. Definitional boundary disputes stem from disagreements over the specific terms of a treaty or other legal document defining an area’s border. Locational disputes arise from disagreements over the actual place where a border should run, for example, whether a small landform in the sea is considered a full-fledged island or not. Often, these disputes are caused by the exploitation of natural resources, such as oil and minerals, in areas that have not been formally delimited.
These issues are usually solved through negotiation or through a dispute settlement mechanism, such as a treaty or arbitration. However, resolving these disputes is not always easy. In the past, territorial disputes have frequently escalated into armed conflict.
A range of factors can influence the potential severity of a border dispute, including Resource scarcity, Locational feature, Domestic politics, and geopolitical competition. Moreover, these issues can also be compounded by cultural differences and ideological commitments. The Real Irish Republican Army, for instance, fought in the name of its country’s nationalist imagination, not in order to gain economic benefits. As a result, it is critical to keep in mind that the consequences of boundary disputes can be devastating and costly for all involved.
