Russia’s Policies for Arctic Cities

Russia’s Policies for Arctic Cities

Author(s): Alexander Pilyasov
Editor(s): Stephen Aris, Matthias Neumann, Robert Orttung, Jeronim Perovic, Heiko Pleines, Hans-Henning Schröder, Aglaya Snetkov
Series: Russian Analytical Digest (RAD)
Issue: 129
Pages: 2-4
Publisher(s): Center for Security Studies (CSS), ETH Zurich; Research Centre for East European Studies, University of Bremen; Institute for European, Russian and Eurasian Studies, George Washington University
Publication Year: 2013

Although the population of Russia’s Arctic has shrunk notably in the past two decades, the region continues to be highly urbanized. The process of developing sustainable, economically self-sufficient, and socially resilient urban centers requires the implementation of informed and directed policy at the federal and local level. In order to assist in informing better policy, this article establishes several categories of northern urban centers based on their economies, political situation, and social networks. The efficacy of policy is analyzed through two case studies, the cities of Muravlenko and Gubkinsky, which have experienced divergent outcomes despite their proximity and organization. Finally, some general policy recommendations are proposed for the different urban categories, based on their varying needs and characteristics.
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