Zones of interaction (frontiers) between cultural groups in various parts of the world have historically been locations of social integration and stability - by team A of HIST 102 98A May-Dec., 2010, UBC－Declan's blog

Since prehistoric times, populations of humans with different cultural, political, economic, and social traditions have come to meet one another in what are known as zones of interaction. These zones often include an established host group who are approached by an outside migrant group. It would be misleading to state that these meetings have always yielded positive results. Many frontiers have experienced some instance of violence or segregation. However, the overlying trend throughout history has been to promote stability and integration. Interaction at these frontiers result in different exchanges, including those of commercial, biological, technological, religious, and cultural natures. These exchanges help different populations to expand their knowledge in these areas, and therefore often lead to progress, which can help to stabilize the frontier. Furthermore, because different populations gain new and valuable ideas from one another, they generally continue to interact at these frontiers, which leads to increased cooperation and cultural awareness. Over time, the cooperation among these societies brings about integration, which forms a more stable and mutually beneficial state. The current world, where many cultures live together in multicultural areas, is an example of this integration.

Historically, zones of interaction exhibit eventual integration and stability, albeit bursts of occasional violence. Three institutions often play a role in the process of developing integration and stability. We argue that religion, government policy, and trade have been historical catalysts of stability and integration in frontier regions. These factors are not mutually exclusive—they often act together in a frontier to create an overall unifying effect. We conceptualize frontiers to include the interactions of people, ideas, technology, and nature.

Religion has historically brought groups of people together in zones of interaction. In the early modern era, Africans were introduced to new religions. The Kongolese monarchy adopted Christianity to promote political and commercial alliances with the Portuguese. A similar process occurred in the kingdom of Ghana. Muslim merchants from North Africa travelled to sub-Saharan West Africa and traded within the kingdom of Ghana, bringing an influx of funds to the area from the taxes on trade. As wealth was generated, the capital saw the creation of a large army. The army protected the capital from raids, increasing stability in the region. In light of these benefits, the kings of Ghana converted to Islam to improve relations with North African merchants. In both cases, traditional local beliefs were integrated with migrated beliefs, supplementing rather than replacing the beliefs of the host people.

Religion as an institution was highly effective in the expansion of Muscovy into Kazan’. Muscovy embraced Russian Orthodoxy and Kazan’ embraced Islam. Russian Orthodox churches, monasteries and convents were established to serve the day-to-day needs of the frontier and in doing so, the Church integrated itself into the non-Orthodox region. Many of its institutions developed local identities due to their economic, juridical and military roles in the frontier. Some of these institutions acted as physical defences, increasing the overall stability of frontier and protecting it from invasion. Orthodox institutions affected many people in the frontier and enforced moral discipline amongst the people so that Muscovy could become a stronger, modern state.

Although government policy often works with religion to promote integration, government is also effective when taken by itself. During the 19th century, British officials used government to stabilize the frontier between British Canadians and French Canadians. To avoid a revolution similar to the American Revolution, Imperial officials created a policy of tolerance. They recognized the right of both parties to practice their separate religions, governance, and law. In 1867, Britain influenced the development of a cohesive Canadian Dominion, laying the foundation for independence and unity in a culturally diverse frontier.

Trade has also played a large role in integrating and stabilizing societies. For example, in the 11th century, China received rice from Vietnam that was easier to grow and ripened quicker than the contemporary Chinese rice. This Vietnamese rice stabilized Chinese food production and helped sustain major population growth. In fact, the Bay of Bengal region has been described by some historians as a heterarchy, as opposed to hierarchy. This theory contends that while there was a large amount of trade taking place in this area, the communities developed equitable, horizontal relationships with one another, instead of domineering, hierarchical relationships. This allowed for a more equitable distribution of power, which fostered cooperation, and ethnic and religious pluralism. One of the reasons why a heterarchy formed is because of regional diasporas and sojourning populations. In other words, because there were so many types of people coming and going, different cultural ideas and values were spread around the area, leading to integration. All of these factors, religion, government policy, and trade, have helped to promote integration and stability at frontiers.