Suchergebnisse

This is an attempt to generalize the results presented in the series of articles and related to the evolution and the current state of the old-developed regions of Russia on the area from its western borders to the Urals inclusive. Contrary to declarations and strategies of spatial development, the existing institutions and trends promoted polarization and shrinkage of the developed space. About 60% of the country's population lives on 5% of its territory. Shrinkage is stimulated by concentration of economic activities and social benefits within the country in the direction from east to west and from north to south, as well as from the periphery of regions to large agglomerations, with few centers outside. These gradients are objectively rooted in the history and development pattern of a vast country, its natural diversity, special role of its large cities and their comparatively sparse location. However, it is far from always possible to justify the scope and impacts of growing contrasts, which are unpleasant for both "poles," condensing human activity in the centers and devastating the peripheries of the regions even at a relatively short distance from Moscow. Therefore, the article concludes with a review of possible attitudes to the processes of spatial shrinkage and the most suffering peripheries. Four policy options are being considered for such places: let the process flow, accelerate it in order to save money, slow it up through financial support for depopulating and depressed areas, and stimulate new waves of their development, for instance using the demand for second (dacha) homes.

This special issue is devoted to the study of the middle zone of European Russia from the western borders to the Urals and Trans-Urals, that is, the old-developed regions of the country. This territory is characterized by acute problems caused by the spatial unevenness of development, despite its small area (against the northern and eastern regions of Russia). In the old-developed areas, the change of historical periods has led to the accumulation of achievements and problems. They continue to influence modern life in the form of the cultural heritage, the prevailing settlement pattern structure, local traditions, accumulated fixed assets, etc. The authors of the 17 articles of the special issue tried to identify the development trends and spatial socioeconomic contrasts, as well as their causes and consequences against the historical background. In the introductory article to the special issue, the authors give a brief overview of the articles presented in the journal.

The evolution of an urban settlement system in the post-Soviet space is analyzed by the comparison of the progress of urbanization and changes in migration balances of cities of different size, status, and location in Russia, Ukraine, and Belarus. Despite the differences in size and density of cities, their hierarchical and spatial structure, and management decisions, many trends in the development of city systems were similar in these countries. The reasons for different migration attractiveness of cities of different sizes are discussed including their socioeconomic statuses and infrastructural arrangement. These countries are characterized by strong contrasts in urban settlement patterns where large and very large centers play a major role and there is a significant proportion of small towns. In all three countries, there are significant differences between the quality of life in large urban centers and small towns. The situation before the military events in Ukraine in 2014 is analyzed. Migration in the period of 1990–2013 mostly from rural areas and from small and medium-sized cities to major centers supports the hypothesis of renewed urbanization that had gone uncompleted in Russia, Ukraine, and Belarus in the Soviet era. Two main migration directions can be noted in the post-Soviet period: from rural areas to capitals, their suburbs, and other large cities, and for Russia and Ukraine (until 2014), from the east to the central and southern regions.

Cover -- Half Title -- Title -- Copyright -- Contents -- Acknowledgments -- In Place of an Introduction -- 1 Historical Construction of Russia's Inter-Urban Space -- 2 Russian Agriculture Early in the 20th Century: Social Peculiarities and Spatial Distinctions -- 3 The Evolution of Russian Agriculture, 1960-1990: Organization and Management Priorities -- 4 Agricultural Output and Production Factors Prior to the 1990s -- 5 Rural Population Change in 1959-1989 and Rural Infrastructure -- 6 Crisis and Reform in the 1990s: The Economic Aspect -- 7 Crisis and Reform in the 1990s: Social Implications -- 8 The Chernozem Countryside -- 9 The Province of Belgorod -- 10 The Non-Chernozem Zone -- 11 The Province of Yaroslavl -- 12 Polarization of the Rural Activity Space -- 13 Urbanites in the Countryside -- 14 Re-Settlers: A New Diaspora? -- 15 Disappearing Crops: A Case Study of Flax in the Province of Kostroma -- 16 Large Mechanized Farms -- Conclusion -- About the Book and Authors -- Index

Die Verfasser arbeiten zunächst sechs Bereiche heraus, in denen sich Vorstädte und Stadtrandsiedlungen in Russland von denen im Westen unterscheiden. Hierbei geht es um die Bevölkerungskonzentration, das Wachstum der Städte, die scharfe Abgrenzung der Wohngebiete, die Wochenendhäuser, die demographische Entwicklung und die Rolle der Landwirtschaft. Vor diesem Hintergrund legen die Verfasser eine Fallstudie zur Struktur der Stadtrandsiedlungen im Großraum Moskau vor. Sie behandeln Bevölkerungsdichte und Bevölkerungsentwicklung, räumliche Entwicklungsmuster, Erholungsgebiete und Wochenendsiedlungen, die Bedeutung der Landwirtschaft, die Struktur und Entwicklung der Flächennutzung, den Grundstücksmarkt sowie die Bodenpreise. Als wichtigstes Charakteristikum der Moskauer Region sehen sie den aufblühenden Grundstücksmarkt, der die hohe Nachfrage nach Zweitwohnungen widerspiegelt. Die Analyse macht darüberhinaus deutlich, dass das Umland der russischen Städte einen wichtigen Anziehungspol für Migranten darstellt. (BIOst-Wpt)

Examines land use, agriculture, housing, spacial pattern of development, population, and land prices of suburban areas; includes comparison with Western, especially US, suburbs.