Transformation of Russia’s Sociogeographical Space

Abstract

— The article understands sociogeographical space as territorial forms of organization of people’s lives and the spatial approach as necessary in analyzing social phenomena and their evolution in the comprehensive study of Russia. It is analyzed under the influence of what processes have formed and changed Russia’s modern sociogeographical space and how its structure affects the development of cities and rural areas. Multiscale analysis is used to consider the features and problems of social development in different parts of the country. Five zones of development and the settlement pattern, differentiation of the demographic geospace, and interregional socioeconomic contrasts are presented. The characteristics of the settlement pattern are based on analysis of urban structures, rural areas, and their interrelations. Networks of cities of different size and status, urban agglomerations, and their impact on the surrounding territories are considered. Rural settlement pattern is analyzed from the viewpoint of population density, the network of settlements, its dynamics, and differences between suburban and peripheral territories. The main processes of transformation of Russia’s sociogeographical space are identified, both those ongoing for several decades and gaining momentum: differentiation, concentration, polarization, shrinkage, and fragmentation. It is emphasized that even those due to objective factors are intensified as a result of centralized administration. In addition, excessive manifestation of these processes weakens the potential for development of territories of various sizes—from districts and cities to regions—and leads to the growth of the intraregional and external (national-scale) periphery. The article ends with proposed measures to support peripheral territories and reduce the polarization of the sociogeographical space.