TY - JOUR

T1 - SOCIO-SPATIAL DIFFERENTIATION IN TRANSITION: A PRELIMINARY COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF POSTSOVIET ST PETERSBURG AND RIGA

AU - Zhitin, D.V.

AU - KRISJANE , Z.

AU - SECHI , G.

AU - BERZINS , M.

PY - 2020

Y1 - 2020

N2 - Research into the socio-spatial dynamics in Central-Eastern European cities is an im-portant area of contemporary transition studies. Open issues in this domain range from defining a theoretical framework to data availability and methodological approaches. As to the former aspect, recent literature focuses on the hybrid nature of the post-socialist urban space, which underwent transformation in the conditions of globalization and eco-nomic liberalization; the earlier model of spatial development changed dramatically as a result. The multi-scalar and comparative approaches may shed new light on the complex patterns of urban socio-spatial differentiation and its post-Soviet dynamics. Growing regional socio-economic imbalances observed in the former socialist states are lending new urgency to this area of research. This study employs a comparative approach to investigate post-1991 socio-spatial trans-formations in St Petersburg and Riga — the two largest post-Soviet urban centres in the Baltic Sea region. An important result of the research is a methodology for multi-lev-a el analysis of changes in the urban environment of post-socialist cities. Data from post-1991 national censuses and population registers are used to calculate measures of social well-being in urban districts as well as to identify territorial imbalances. Compar-ative analysis makes it possible to trace the spatial patterns of post-Soviet differentiation and set out guidelines for further research in the area.

AB - Research into the socio-spatial dynamics in Central-Eastern European cities is an im-portant area of contemporary transition studies. Open issues in this domain range from defining a theoretical framework to data availability and methodological approaches. As to the former aspect, recent literature focuses on the hybrid nature of the post-socialist urban space, which underwent transformation in the conditions of globalization and eco-nomic liberalization; the earlier model of spatial development changed dramatically as a result. The multi-scalar and comparative approaches may shed new light on the complex patterns of urban socio-spatial differentiation and its post-Soviet dynamics. Growing regional socio-economic imbalances observed in the former socialist states are lending new urgency to this area of research. This study employs a comparative approach to investigate post-1991 socio-spatial trans-formations in St Petersburg and Riga — the two largest post-Soviet urban centres in the Baltic Sea region. An important result of the research is a methodology for multi-lev-a el analysis of changes in the urban environment of post-socialist cities. Data from post-1991 national censuses and population registers are used to calculate measures of social well-being in urban districts as well as to identify territorial imbalances. Compar-ative analysis makes it possible to trace the spatial patterns of post-Soviet differentiation and set out guidelines for further research in the area.

KW - CITY

KW - DORMITORY DISTRICTS

KW - POPULATION

KW - SOCIAL WELL-BEING

KW - SPATIAL TRANSFORMATION

KW - suburbanization

KW - TERRITORIAL IMBALANCES

UR - https://journals.kantiana.ru/baltic_region/4415/13000/

UR - https://elibrary.ru/item.asp?id=42646821

U2 - 10.5922/10.5922/2079-8555-2020-1-6

DO - 10.5922/10.5922/2079-8555-2020-1-6

M3 - Article

VL - 12

SP - 85

EP - 114

JO - Baltic Region

JF - Baltic Region

SN - 2079-8555

IS - 1

M1 - 6

ER -