Those who have to cross “hard” borders face many problems on their way, including arbitrary and unjust treatment by consular and border guard officers, protracted and nitpicking inspections and extortion by customs officers, and huge traffic congestions. This article examines the extent to which various categories of people crossing the European Union-Russian border can self-organize in order to act together and be heard better for solving these and other issues. Tourists, shuttle traders, and truck drivers working for international cargo carriers are taken as three case studies for the research. I argue that all of the three mentioned categories of border crossers are capable of self-organizing in various ways: tourists—by exchanging best practices within thematic networks, shuttle traders—by taking advantage of their ability to gather in their common places of residence and (as well as truck drivers) near checkpoints when traffic congestions arise, truck drivers—also by taking advantage of support from influential business associations. It is also important that the audibility of border crossers’ voices can be seriously amplified by mediators, among which officials, politicians, business structures, and the mass media are the most efficient. At the same time, the capability of these three kinds of border crossers to make their voices heard is very limited, since their interactions are typically weak and instable and since officials are much more powerful.

中文翻译：

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组织对抗边境壁垒

那些不得不穿越“硬”边界的人在途中面临许多问题，包括领事和边防人员的任意和不公正待遇，海关人员的长期和吹毛求疵的检查和勒索，以及巨大的交通拥堵。本文考察了跨越欧盟-俄罗斯边界的各类人群在多大程度上可以自我组织，以便共同行动并在解决这些问题和其他问题时得到更好的倾听。为国际货运公司工作的游客、穿梭商和卡车司机作为研究的三个案例研究。我认为所有提到的三类过境者都能够以各种方式自我组织：游客——通过在主题网络内交流最佳实践，穿梭商——利用他们在交通拥堵时聚集在他们共同的住所和（以及卡车司机）靠近检查站的能力，卡车司机——也利用有影响力的商业协会的支持。同样重要的是，调解员可以严重放大越境者声音的可听度，其中官员、政治家、企业结构和大众媒体的效率最高。同时，这三种越境者发出声音的能力非常有限，因为他们之间的互动通常很弱且不稳定，而且官员的权力要大得多。卡车司机——也可以利用有影响力的商业协会的支持。同样重要的是，调解员可以严重放大越境者声音的可听度，其中官员、政治家、企业结构和大众媒体的效率最高。同时，这三种越境者发出声音的能力非常有限，因为他们之间的互动通常很弱且不稳定，而且官员的权力要大得多。卡车司机——也可以利用有影响力的商业协会的支持。同样重要的是，调解员可以严重放大越境者声音的可听度，其中官员、政治家、企业结构和大众媒体的效率最高。同时，这三种越境者发出声音的能力非常有限，因为他们之间的互动通常很弱且不稳定，而且官员的权力要大得多。