Cherepanova E. A., Shirokova P. A., Nazarenko G. A., Prusikhin O. E., Krutov O. D., Aleksandrov E. A., Koldobskaya N. A. The impact of path dependence on the adaptation of old-developed industrial regions of the Lower Oka Region to changing economic conditions in the post-Soviet period // The Russian Peasant Studies. 2025. V.10. №4. P. 165-184.

EDN: RHYULJ

Annotation

The article considers the influence of “path dependence” on the adaptation of old industrial territories of the Nizhny Novgorod Region to the changing economic conditions in the post-Soviet period. The authors identify two different development trajectories — in the northern part (Pavlovsky and Vachsky districts) with a predominance of small business and handicraft production and in the southern part (Vyksa, Kulebaki, Navashino) with a predominance of large enterprises. The study is based on interviews, statistical and archival data. The comparative analysis showed that northern territories managed to adapt by restructuring and diversification of production based on the historical handicraft traditions, while southern territories maintained a monocentric model with the city-forming enterprise determining economic and social life. The authors identify three types of “blocking effects” (functional, political, and cognitive) that make it diff icult to diversify the economy in southern regions. On the contrary, in northern regions, a developed network of cooperating small enterprises contributes to the sustainability and flexibility of the local economy. Thus, historical specialization of territories still determines their development trajectories.

Keywords

Old industrial territories, path dependency, Nizhny Novgorod Region, Lower Oka Region, small towns, single-industry towns, ferrous metallurgy.  

About the authors

Ekaterina A. Cherepanova, Senior Analyst, Center for Strategic Research, Gazetny Per., 3–5, bldg. 1, Moscow, 125009, Russia.
E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Polina A. Shirokova, Independent Researcher. Sitnikova St., 2, Balashikha, Moscow Region, 143923, Russia.
E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Grigory A. Nazarenko, PhD Student, Department of Economic and Social Geography of Russia, Faculty of Geography, Lomonosov Moscow State University. Leninskie Gory, 1, GSP-1, Moscow, 119991, Russia.
E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Oleg E. Prusikhin, PhD Student, Senior Engineer, Department of Economic and Social Geography of Russia, Faculty of Geography, Lomonosov Moscow State University. Leninskie Gory, 1, GSP-1, Moscow, 119991, Russia.
E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Oleg D. Krutov, PhD Student, Senior Engineer, Department of Economic and Social Geography of Russia, Faculty of Geography, Lomonosov Moscow State University. Leninskie Gory, 1, GSP-1, Moscow, 119991, Russia.
E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Evgeny A. Aleksandrov, Master’s Student, Department of Economic and Social Geography of Russia, Faculty of Geography, Lomonosov Moscow State University. Leninskie Gory, 1, GSP-1, Moscow, 119991, Russia.
E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Natalia A. Koldobskaya, PhD (Geography), Associate Professor, Department of Economic and Social Geography of Russia, Faculty of Geography, Lomonosov Moscow State University. Leninskie Gory, 1, GSP-1, Moscow, 119991, Russia.
E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 

Prusikhin O.E., Krutov O.D., Vorobiev M.I., Loktionov K.S., Vepritsky A.A., Alekseev A.I. A multi-scale typology of rural areas under the post-Soviet transformations (on the example of the Tambov Region) // The Russian Peasant Studies. 2023. V.8. №2. P. 64-103.

DOI: 10.22394/2500-1809-2023-8-2-64-103

Annotation

Russian countryside is heterogeneous, and in the post-Soviet period, this heterogeneity has increased. Moreover, the image of the countryside in the perception of the authorities and society is far from reality, which leads to the mistakes in the assessment of its condition and prospects. Russian scholars usually study the northern countryside and ethnic republics, while the studies of the Russian steppe regions are less common. The authors consider the factors of the rural territorial differentiation under the post-Soviet transformations in one of the most homogeneous steppe regions — Tambov — at the level of municipal districts and rural settlements. The suggested typology of districts is based on the statistical indicators which reflect changes in the intensity of territorial development in the last thirty years; and the typology of settlements is based on 53 interviews and observations during the expedition to the Michurinsky, Gavrilovsky and Uvarovsky districts in the summer of 2022. The authors conclude that the natural factor still determines the intensity of transformations both directly (higher intensification of crop production in the south) and indirectly (through the settlement and transportation system). The influence of the economic-geographical position (proximity to cities) and of the institutional factor (large investors are interested in unallocated land) is also significant.

Keywords

Post-soviet transformations, rural areas, Tambov Region, changing functions, typology, rural settlements.

About the authors

Oleg E. Prusikhin, Master’s Student, Department of Economic and Social Geography of Russia, Faculty of Geography, Lomonosov Moscow State University; Leninsky Gory, 1, Moscow, 119991.
E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 
Oleg D. Krutov, Master’s Student, Department of Economic and Social Geography of Russia, Faculty of Geography, Lomonosov Moscow State University; Leninsky Gory, 1, Moscow, 119991.
E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 
Maxim I. Vorobiev, PhD Student, Department of Economic and Social Geography of Russia, Faculty of Geography, Lomonosov Moscow State University; Leninsky Gory, 1, Moscow, 119991.
E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 
Kirill S. Loktionov, Bachelor’s Student, Department of Economic and Social Geography of Russia, Faculty of Geography, Lomonosov Moscow State University; Leninsky Gory, 1, Moscow, 119991.
E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 
Alexander А. Vepritsky, Bachelor’s Student, Department of Economic and Social Geography of Russia, Faculty of Geography, Lomonosov Moscow State University; Leninsky Gory, 1, Moscow, 119991.
E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 
Alexander I. Alekseev, DSc (Geography), Professor, Department of Economic and Social Geography of Russia, Faculty of Geography, Lomonosov Moscow State University; Leninsky Gory, 1, Moscow, 119991.
E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.   

Prusikhin O. E., Zhukovsky E. D., Krutov O. D., Alekseev A. I. Life of Ivan and Hans in the 21st century: Volchikhinsky district of the Altai Region // The Russian Peasant Studies. 2022. V.7. №3. P. 190-209.

DOI: 10.22394/2500-1809-2022-7-3-190-209

Annotation

The article describes the lifestyle of rural residents in the steppe part of Southern Siberia on the example of the Volchikhinsky district of the Altai Region. The approach applied is inspired by the book by O. P. Semenova-Tyan-Shanskaya The Life of Ivan which presents a ‘portrait’ of the typical, ‘collective’ villager. The authors identify a number of characters reflecting the typical social groups of the village. Local population was formed mainly by the peasant migrations of the Stolypin era (Russians) and by the deportation of the Volga Germans during the Great Patriotic War; the number of Germans was also influenced by the wave of resettlement to Germany, which had begun after the collapse of the Soviet Union. The destruction of closed communities and their resettlement in the Russian settlements of Altai led to the rapprochement of these groups and to the blurring of the ethnic-cultural boundaries between them. The authors identify differences in the lifestyle of the district center and its villages. The main employers in Volchikha are the brewery and public sector; most residents do not keep livestock; thus, they have free time. For residents of other villages, personal subsidiary farming mainly based on a cow is the main source of livelihood, which almost deprives them of free time. However, the ways for spending free time are similar for all residents of the district. The weekly market in Volchikha serves as a place for both trade and social interactions for the entire district. The authors conclude that the contemporary differences in the lifestyle are determined by the level of urbanization and the age of the settlement rather than by ethnic differences.

Keywords

Rural area, lifestyle, Altai Region, Southern Siberia, peasant activities, Russian Germans.

About the authors

Oleg E. Prusikhin, Bachelor’s Student, Department of Economic and Social Geography of Russia, Faculty of Geography, Lomonosov Moscow State University; Leninsky Gory, 1, Moscow, 119991, Russia.
E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 
Evgeny D. Zhukovsky, Bachelor’s Student, Department of Economic and Social Geography of Russia, Faculty of Geography, Lomonosov Moscow State University; Leninsky Gory, 1, Moscow, 119991, Russia.
E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 
Oleg D. Krutov, Bachelor’s Student, Department of Economic and Social Geography of Russia, Faculty of Geography, Lomonosov Moscow State University; Leninsky Gory, 1, Moscow, 119991, Russia.
E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 
Alexander I. Alekseev, DSc (Geography), Professor, Department of Economic and Social Geography of Russia, Faculty of Geography, Lomonosov Moscow State University; Leninsky Gory, 1, Moscow, 119991, Russia.
E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.