TERRITORIAL IDENTITY IN SOCIAL SPACE

Abstract

The article examines modern theoretical and empirical problems of territorial identity in rural and urban social space. The relevance of these problems is determined by the fact that application of the theory of social identity can be used as a “heuristic lens” for the study, operationalization and verification of identity formation processes in their interconnection with social changes in socio-cultural and geographical contexts. The article uses identity process theory and social representations research as theoretical basis adopting concepts of “status symbols” and “status value”, various components of which can be operationalized in questions about identity contents, its structure and internal processes, as well as motivational principles that individuals are guided by. The empirical basis is the study of territorial identity in 2006-2021, conducted by a research team of sociologists of University of Tyumen. Evidence of the importance of identity processes in the verbalization of social representations about territory image is obtained from the respondents’ evaluations of the symbols of their settlement, region, country and world as a whole. The analysis of the obtained data on the territorial identity of the Tyumen region, Russia in 2006-2021 shows residents’ attitude to the region. It is revealed that there is a positive dynamics of emotional connection to one’s place of residence, defined as a positive territorial identity («I am glad that I live here»), which appears in an increase in the corresponding share among respondents (from 31% in 2006 to 43% in 2021). The development of regional identity is associated with respondents’ higher professional status, higher social well-being, and relatively higher income. Meanwhile downward trend of territorial identity of the residents of rural areas and smaller cities is detected in their general unwillingness to connect the future of their children with the settlement of their birth and current residence.