Territorial identity of the population as a factor an consequence of social participation

Abstract

The main objective of the article is to demonstrate the correlation between the lev el of territorial identity of the population and the development of social participation practices. The theory and methodology of the study is based on the works of foreign scientists T. Banini, R. Capello, U. Panzer, who prove the pronounced active position of the population with a high level of territorial identity, and on the concept of “the right to the city” by H. Lefebvre, presented in Russian realities in the works by I.A. Skalaban, E.S. Kochukhova, V.S. Martyanova, E. A. Terentyeva. The main hypothesis of the study: the population with a high level of territorial identity declares its “right to the city” through the practices of social participation, that are manifested mostly in the field of urban space planning, inclusion in the practices of participatory management. In turn, practices of social participation at the local level strengthen territorial identity and boost formation of the attachment to the place of residence. Information collection method: mass survey of the population of the city of Cherepovets, Vologda Region, based on a quota sampling of the population over 18 years old according to the gender and age structure of the city. According to the results of an empirical study, it was proved that the population with a higher level of territorial identity has a significantly greater presence of informal participation practices, especially those related to the transformation of urban space. The practices of helping behaviour are most clearly expressed and the involvement in the activities of public city organisations is more common. It was proved with the help of dispersion analysis that population groups with different levels of social participation practices statistically differ in terms of the level of territorial identity.