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2025. Vol.10. №4.

The relationship of economic and spiritual-axiological aspects in the life of the Russian village (an exploratory project in a regional ‘case’)

Jan 14 2026

Baturina O. S. The relationship of economic and spiritual-axiological aspects in the life of the Russian village (an exploratory project in a regional ‘case’) // The Russian Peasant Studies. 2025. V.10. №4. P. 246-259.

EDN: VSYEDO

Annotation

The article presents the results of an exploratory sociological study aimed at identifying the relationship between economic determinants and axiological-spiritual orientations of the rural population (on the example of a specific regional case). In the f irst part of the article, the author explains the categorical apparatus, conceptual foundations and sampling criteria for the empirical study, in the second part briefly summarizes its findings, showing that the financial well-being of the local community has a direct impact on social activity and communicative richness of rural life, level of societal trust, and motivation to participate in public initiatives. Tense confrontation between economic rationality (pragmatic considerations) and moral-ethical guidelines for collective life proves to be a determining factor in the preservation or destruction/loss of local value systems and cultural-historical heritage, and, consequently, in the perception of traditional foundations (on the scale from ‘sacred’ to ‘utilitarian’) and in value conflicts. On the one hand, the study confirms well-known principles of local community sustainability, such as favorable economic conditions as a factor in retaining young workers and effectively reproducing social and human capital in rural areas. On the other hand, the author identifies significant contradictions between (a) the values   of environmental responsibility and traditional collectivism declared by rural representatives and (b) the actual economic situation characterized by a lack of material, financial and resource opportunities to realize the declared life priorities. This leads to the degradation of social capital, erosion of local identity, strengthening paternalistic orientation, and decreasing confidence in the ability to influence the situation, which weakens the potential of rural self-government institutions. Thus, rural respondents consider the improvement of economic living conditions not only as a necessary means of achieving material well-being but also as a crucial tool for restoring social and cultural potential of the local community.

Keywords

Russian village, economic development, social well-being, traditional way of life, spiritual-moral values, case study, social/cultural/human capital.  

About the author

Oksana S. Baturina, PhD (Psychology), Head of the Scientific Department, Birsk Branch of the Ufa University of Science and Technology; Head of the small innovative enterprise “Academy of Personal and Corporate Development”. Internatsionalnaya St., 10, Birsk, Republic of Bashkortostan, 452451, Russia.
E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 

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2023. Vol.8. №4.

Casus Pyalmiae: A city dweller and his village

Apr 09 2024

Korolev C.M. Casus Pyalmiae: A city dweller and his village // The Russian Peasant Studies. 2023. V.8. №4. P. 152-173.

DOI: 10.22394/2500-1809-2023-8-4-152-173

Annotation

On the example of the Karelian village Pyalma, the author considers the construction of the image of the Russian traditional Northern village by former city dwellers. Based on their own ideas about the rural authenticity, they represent rural traditions to urban tourists, whose knowledge of the rural is determined by popular culture and is not supported by practical skills. By comparing the history of Pyalma with other examples of the contemporary public work with natural-cultural heritage in North-West Russia, the author shows that the typification and museumification of traditional rurality in many villages are determined by the individual desire to preserve them and ensure their development by attracting tourists and introducing activities of the ‘economy of impressions’. The author notes that for most ‘seasonal’ residents (local and urban summer residents), the historicity of the place is not as important as the natural-infrastructural features of the village location. Thus, today urban projections of rurality in historical settlements are clearly divided into general and private, commemorative-tourist and personal economic practices, which together form a post-productivist ‘new rurality’ of historical villages in the Russian North.

Keywords

New rurality, rural tourism, Russian village, Russian North, heritage, naturalcultural landscape.

About the author

Kirill M. Korolev, PhD (Philology), Head of the Patria (“Fatherland”) Center for History and Culture. Nab. Obvodnogo Kanala, 15, bldg. 1, lit. A, Saint Petersburg, 190002.
E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 

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Russian Peasant Studies

Peer-reviewed interdisciplinary academic journal in the field of theoretical and empirical peasant studies, rural sociology, economics and social geography. The journal publishes original works on the issues of socio-economic development of agricultural regions of Russia and the world, the history of the peasantry, including its formation and evolution, particularly from philosophical and cultural studies viewpoints. The journal aims at exploring the paths of Russian and international rural development and supporting cooperation of agrarian researchers representing different scientific disciplines. Read more>

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