Russian Towns Research Articles

Water Supply to the Small Cities in the Northern Region of the Russian Empire, 1890–1910s (Vologda, Staraya Russa and Cherepovets)

The article is devoted to the analysis of the process of the organization of centralized water supply systems in small Russian towns at the end of the nineteenth and the beginning of the twentieth century. The causes and the process of pipeline building in three small cities, each of which became signifi cant transport hubs by 1914 and had populations of less than 50,000 people, are described in the research. The research interest in these towns is led by understanding how the transport position of small cities promoted the improvement of water supplies in them. It was essential due to the growth of the urban populations and increasing cases of cholera epidemics in transport-hub cities.

Концепция древнерусского города в трудах Е. Н. Носова

Концепция древнерусского города в трудах Е. Н. Носова

Development of the solar electric bicycle and its test run on the Russian public roads

The article presents the basic principles for development of electric bicycle transport in cities and towns of Russia. The technical characteristics of sun vehicle, developed by the authors are given. We describe the test run of passenger sun vehicle and three cycle hybrids along the route Volgograd - Sevastopol, with a length of 1350 km. We obtained the comparative characteristics between sun vehicle “TURIST” and industrial samples of electric bicycles. It was shown that solar electric vehicles can be successfully used on Russian public roads.

Problems of Development of Small and Medium Russian Towns

The presented study addresses the problems of development of small and medium towns in Russia. Aim. The study aims to examine a town as a socio-economic environment where its residents exist and as the fundamental factor for the development of society.Tasks. The authors identify key problems in the development of small and medium Russian towns, which interferes with the historical appearance and has a negative impact on the living environment.Methods. Problems in the development of small and medium towns in Russia are examined using theoretical methods: systematic approach, statistical analysis, social and philosophical analysis.Results. The study identifies the main negative effects of the existing model of development of small and medium Russian towns, such as destruction of their historical and cultural appearance, distortion of the overall architectural motif, increased load on communications, and congestion of the transport infrastructure.Conclusions. At the current stage, efficient development of small and medium towns in Russia is impossible within the framework of the existing infill development. This chaotic process cannot be stopped without a new conceptual approach and changes in the legislative and normative framework of urban development. The only factor that determines the boundaries of the existing approach to urban development is the lack of physical space for new buildings in urban areas. The authors formulate proposals that would help to solve the problems of development of small and medium towns in Russia.

Urban Regimes in Small Russian Towns

This article presents the outcomes of a research project conducted in five small Russian towns. Different coalitions between local actors take place in all communities. However, coalitions that meet the criteria of the urban regime (in Stone's classical interpretation) have been discovered, with certain reservations, only in two towns. For a number of characteristics, these coalitions differed from regimes in American and European towns: often not quite voluntary nature of coalitions, prevalence of egoistic motives in the coalition–building, strong dependence of the regimes on the personal factor (personal qualities and resources of local administrators, their experience, relations with regional elites, etc.), absence of formal organizations able to coordinate the interests of coalition members, etc. In the three other local communities, urban regimes have not been built due to personal factors, frequent changes in the local government leadership, or the role of external factors (the nature of the relationship of local elites with regional and federal authorities, methods of influence of regional authorities on local politics). In the public agenda of the regimes (quasi–regimes), the elements of the status quo and, to a lesser extent, growth, prevail. The outcomes of study allow us to conclude that despite the authoritarian nature of the Russian politics and the differences between Russian and American contexts, urban regimes analysis is quite applicable for the study of power in Russian local communities.

Business in the Power Structure of Small Russian Towns

This article is based on the outcomes of a research project conducted in five small Russian towns. In all the communities, big business had significant power potential, but its direct involvement in local politics was limited since the ‘power vertical’ instituted under Putin meant that decisions on the most important local issues were made at regional and federal levels. Small and medium-sized businesses were also not actively involved in local politics. Unlike big business, however, they were more vulnerable to and dependent on local administrations. Relations between local authorities and business actors seemed close and cooperative; however, their interactions often had no civic component and were based almost exclusively on mutual interest.

Men's Socialization and the History of Man's Life: The Reproduction of Male Culture in the Individual Narrative

The research in question is based on the gender schema theory by Sandra Bem. The purpose of the research is to study male narrative features in the context of the norms of male socialization. The aim of the research under consideration is a comparative analysis of male and female autobiographies features, which are not confined to male and female speech characteristics and reflect revision of gender socialization norms by the subject. With the help of biographical interview method autobiographies of women aged 31 to 72 (N= 34) and men aged from 23 to 69 (N= 36) living in provincial Russian towns were transcribed and contrasted. The autobiographies underwent categorial analysis procedure conducted by experts; the obtained categorial matrices were processed with the use of mathematical methods of statistics. Considerable attention was given to men’s life stories during the process of analysis. Quantitative data analysis allowed to reconstruct the structure of men’s and women’s autobiographies, which reflected gender socialization norms. The obtained algorithm, being geared towards the search for gender markers in the autobiographies, identified gender-specific markers in men’s texts whereas the female ones were retrieved owing to non-specific categories. This allowed to conclude that the modern Russian male socialization practices are more traditional. According to the results of the research, the categorial structure of autobiographical texts in men and in women is similar in key events and specific to each gender group at the same time. As far as gender normativity is concerned, male stories are more frequent to contain the gender norms abidance markers. Female stories are more individualized and fall into different scenarios (gender-standardized and non-standard).

Advertisements in Russian provincial press at the beginning of the First World War

Purpose This paper aims to examine some common and specific features of advertisements published in Tsaritsyn’s (present-day Volgograd) daily newspapers at the beginning of the First Word War. The town of Tsaritsyn was a local centre of the rapid economic growth that the Russian Empire experienced in the early 1910s; it can be considered a model of Russian provincial advertising behaviours and the consumer culture of the time. Design/methodology/approach The main methods used in this paper are the local history approach and discourse and socio-political, content and gender analysis, as well as compositional interpretation. These methods have made the reconstruction of a historical portrait of Tsaritsyn possible at the beginning of the First Word War through an analysis of advertisements published in its periodicals. The sources of this paper include selections from the newspaper Tsaritsynsky Vestnik from June 1914 to February 1915, the newspaper Volgo-Donskoy Krai from September 1911 to February 1915 and the calendar-handbook Ves Tsaritsyn of 1911. Findings Advertising is a highly adaptive phenomenon of socio-economic activity. However, it is both conservative in form and content. It is simultaneously constant and changing, and so it can reveal some transformations in the provincial town’s daily life. Research limitations/implications Local history methods, including the ideographic, are designed to better explore unique historical events. Research based on these methods becomes more valuable in larger quantity, allowing the implementation of nomothetic methods that elucidate historical regularities and general trends. Practical implications This paper’s findings can be used in further research on global and local aspects of marketing history and development of consumer society, as well as in university courses concerning the disciplines mentioned above. Originality/value This paper studies newspaper advertisements published at the beginning of the First Word War in a Russian provincial town. It reveals some transformations in their content and form which occurred after the outbreak of the war. While the subjects of the advertisements remained relatively unchanged, a number of promotions decreased, social and entertainments advertising became starker and more harshly patriotic and long-used promotional methods became sarcastic during time of war.

Contribution of Cross-Cultural Projects in Foreign Language Education of University Students (by the Example of Murom Institute)

At present it has become evident that one of the principle goals of teaching a foreign language is to develop communicative competence at the level sufficient enough for a student to be effective in the international environment. The research takes into account the tendency to nationalization (versus internationalization) of foreign language education in the countries outside the Anglo-Saxon world.The project approach to foreign language teaching involving (1) the shift from knowledgebased orientation to activity-directed learning and (2) the emphasis on the national culture reflected in the local cultural peculiarities of an ancient Russian town – Murom is applied in this research. The research is based on the analysis of the 18-year experience of cross-cultural projects implementation by Professors and students of Murom Institute in cooperation with different inter-national centers. Several types of cross-cultural projects on the basis of the local component have been differentiated in accordance with the initiating organ-ization, the purpose and contents, the place of implementation, the participants, time length. Local cultural competence as an integral part of intercultural competence is outlined. The most effective methods are described.The paper concludes that the applied approach is of great help to foreign language educators working on small territories with respect to the possibility of organizing equal cross-cultural communication which contributes to national identity preservation.

Modern problems of single-industry towns and their cluster history

The article is devoted to single-industry towns and the possibilities of solving their problems, including with the help of a cluster development model. The relevance of this topic is due to the catastrophic state of single-industry towns in Russia and the need to find ways out of the current situation. The Government of the Russian Federation actively supports the development of special programs and projects to support single-industry towns, but most of the measures taken have shown their inconsistency. The article examines the history of the formation of single-industry towns, the means of their territorial organization and the methods of regional development used. Relying on official statistical data, the authors draw attention to the fact that in modern conditions it becomes impossible to develop only the economic sphere, without taking into account social, geographical, cultural, environmental and other factors. The paper shows the necessary conditions for the development of single-industry towns, the possibilities of their actualization and prospects. The conclusion is made about the need to provide residents with opportunities for self-organization, cluster opportunities to get out of the crisis, the need to study the cultural potential of a particular topos and search for approaches to its versatile development.

Eugene M. Avrutin. The Velizh Affair: Blood Libel in a Russian Town.

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Роль градообразующих предприятий в решении социальных проблем моногородов

Abstract: The research features the impact of city-forming enterprises on the main spheres of functioning of Russian single-industry towns. The paper shows why a city-forming enterprise often becomes the leading actor in solving the social problems of the whole town, as well as its own employees and their families. This happens because this kind of social support strengthen the labor relations between the enterprises and their own employees, which resulted in "additional financing"of the territory by the city-forming enterprises in many regions. Agreements on social and economic cooperation between representatives of the regional or municipal power and business are a good example of the social functions adopted by city-forming enterprises. Many large enterprises of Kemerovo region have been involved in this practice for years.

Optimization of development schemes for group water supply systems under uncertainty of prospective water consumption

In recent years, in the Russian cities there has been a decrease about 15-30% the total volume of water consumed and the specific indicator of water consumption per resident. However, this phenomenon is not taken into account in the SP 31.13330.2012, therefore the values of specific water consumption do not correspond to the modern level of sanitary equipment of the buildings and water consumption, which can not be the same for all cities and towns in Russia. Using the standard values of the design loads indicated in this code can lead to a significant increase in the cost of the project and operating costs. Their correction is necessary taking into account the assessment and forecast of the actual values of specific water consumption. This requires appropriate research and updating of specific water consumption standards for the design and reconstruction water supply and sewerage systems. The article describes the parameter justification method for the designed water supply systems under uncertainty of the prospective values of specific water consumption. The technique is based on the fuzzy sets theory and decision-making methodology under uncertainty of the initial information. This technique allows you to make decisions based on the minimum values of investment risks.

The Velizh Affair: Blood Libel in a Russian Town. By Eugene M. Avrutin. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2018. xviii, 225 pp. Appendix. Notes. Bibliography. Index. Illustrations. Photographs. Maps. $34.95, hard bound.

The Velizh Affair: Blood Libel in a Russian Town. By Eugene M. Avrutin. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2018. xviii, 225 pp. Appendix. Notes. Bibliography. Index. Illustrations. Photographs. Maps. $34.95, hard bound.

Культура повседневности купечества провинциальных городов Тамбовской губернии в первой половине XIX века

We consider the problem of studying the daily life of trade and business segments of the population in the provincial Russian city of the agrarian region in the pre-reform period. Primarily we analyze the features of daily life, the farm and household, nutrition, housing merchant families. We trace acquisition and property inheritance practice, daily culture formation in the merchant environment in the provincial Russian town using forensic investigation materials. The relevance of the work is in the importance of studying the most economically successful families of entrepreneurs in the uezd town in the pre-reform period. The study of sources enables to extend the territorial peculiarities of the daily life of a provincial merchant of the town in the agricultural region. The novelty of the research is in the micro-historical approach to the integrated study of the daily life culture as one of the forms of property and class differentiation of citizens. Microanalysis allows us to present specific reasons and motives for the formation of large property, ownership of permanent and movable property, savings, housing conditions improvement, food trade and business segments of the urban population on the example of its individual representatives and families.

Дом глазами русских и англичан

The article is devoted to analyzing the concept of HOME as cross-perceived by Russians and Englishmen. A linguistic analysis, phenomenological synthesis and complex description add to the integrity of the phenomenon in question. The author maintains that issues treated by linguists, culture specialists and narrow experts should be regarded jointly. Ordinary consciousness of both Russians and Englishmen abounds in mythologems and stereotypes. So, English people tend to consider that Russian towns team with wild bears, rambling haphazardly; or the locals have money to burn. Conversely, the Russian folk are of the opinion that England is somewhat a fairy domain under the control of charming princes. The conducted research contributes to a greater awareness of the current reality and the importance of the autochthonous and non-autochthonous phenomenon representations. The object of the study is the Russian and English living space of an average citizen or a rural man, most often it is a house, cottage or apartment. The subject is the way of perceiving “home” by the residents of Russia and England. The contrasting analysis of proverbs induces the premise that Russian mental image is bigger and incorporates additional connotations “domesticity” and “regular housekeeping”. While comparing the physical parameters of the Russian and English homes, sets of features for indigenous and non-aboriginal images have been established, as well as popular materials, dimensions, and design. The data are presented in tables. The article reveals that Russian and English people share warm attitude towards their homes, delicate handling of national traditions, and creating snug and cosy family nests. The unveiled common and specifc features show that Russians and Englishmen see eye to eye on the daily grind, which can promote better understanding between the cultures and contribute to eliminating disagreement on the world arena.

Leadership and power in a small Russian town: vectors of change A. Chirikova, V. Ledyaev

Leadership and power in a small Russian town: vectors of change A. Chirikova, V. Ledyaev

Малые города России: междисциплинарный анализ

Малые города России: междисциплинарный анализ

Reconstruction of Wooden and Earthen Buildings in 17th to 18th-Century Russian Forts in Siberia: The Case of the Sayansky Ostrog

On the basis of the materials of the Sayansky Ostrog (fort), built in the Northern Sayan in 1718, we reconstruct the type of building that was common during the initial stage of the Russian colonization (1600s and 1700s). This is one of the few well preserved Russian forts. While its buildings, their function, and location are known from written sources and from the findings of a complete archaeological excavation, their construction has been hitherto unknown. To reconstruct their size and appearance, we collated archaeological and ethnographic findings, museum materials, and written evidence about the layout of buildings and construction techniques. Judging from the totality of data, we suggest the reconstructions of buildings, such as powder magazine, supply depot, barn with cellar, forge, and commandant’s house. We describe traditions and innovations in construction techniques, choice of building materials, details and blocks, layout of floors, ceilings, and roofs. The commandant’s house reproduces the architectural standards of that time, set by Domenico Trezzini, who designed buildings in the capital and in provincial Russian towns.

New Bukhara: An 'Island' of Russia in Central Asia

This paper is devoted to the characteristics of the city of New Bukhara, the “capital” of the Russian settlements in the Bukharan Emirate. It was originally established as a station on the Trans-Caspian railway but soon transformed into the Russian business and cultural center in the Emirate. It had specific status being a Russian enclave in the Bukharan Emirate which was de jure an independent state. However, the information on this city is contradictory. Some visitors stated in their notes and memoirs that it was a large city with well-developed infrastructure, others characterized it as a little settlement, “a poky hole” without any common features with towns of Russia and Europe. According to other materials New Bukhara was the real administrative center of Russian settlements in the Bukharan Emirate, while others state that it was only the residence of the Russian diplomatic representative in the Emirate. The author analyzes legal documents, other official information, notes from travelers and another contemporaries to establish a view on the real New Bukhara, to answer the question on status of New Bukhara in the Bukharan Emirate and in the Russian Empire.