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2024. Vol.9. №2.

A few methodological notes based on the field observations of rural human capital in the Russia’s Non-Black Earth Region

Jul 17 2024

Trotsuk I. V. A few methodological notes based on the field observations of rural human capital in the Russia’s Non-Black Earth Region // The Russian Peasant Studies. 2024. V.9. №2. P. 6-19.

DOI: 10.22394/2500-1809-2024-9-2-6-19

Annotation

The article presents some methodological considerations on the possibilities and limitations of the qualitative approach (repeated case studies in the specific Russian region) for the sociological assessment of human capital. In the first part of the article, the author considers the Russian tradition of rural studies as combining two analytical ‘optics’ — sociological/ethnographic observations of local realities based on various combinations of qualitative techniques and a strong anthropological/ peasant-studies emphasis with large-scale social surveys aimed at macro-descriptions of agrarian reforms, rural social/human capital and agro-industrial complex under the persistent trends of social-spatial differentiation. In the second part, the author mentions the key possibilities and limitations of case studies for assessing the state and prospects of rural human capital in the most depressed rural region of Russia, focusing on the role of entrepreneurs in formal and informal support of the local rural economy and communities in cooperation with municipal and regional authorities. In the final part, the author emphasizes typologies as the analytical result of rural case studies (especially the repeated ones) and provides examples — ‘types’ of the local agricultural producer relationships with the rural settlement’s authorities and community (as the basis for preserving rural human capital) and ‘types’ of the rural entrepreneurs’ biographical trajectories (as the basis for the generational continuity of this differentiated rural stratum).

Keywords

(Repeated) case study, field research, typology, analytical generalizations, rural entrepreneur, rural human capital, positive and negative trends, local authorities, rural community, formal and informal interaction.

About the author

Trotsuk Irina V., DSc (Sociology), Professor, Sociology Department, RUDN University; Senior Researcher, Center for Agrarian Studies, Russian Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public Administration; Intercenter, Moscow School of Social and Economic Sciences. 119571, Moscow, Vernadskogo Prosp., 82.
E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 

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2019. Vol.4. №2.

Municipal reform of 2015 in Ukraine: Implementation and first results

Aug 07 2019

Gusakov T.Yu. Municipal reform of 2015 in Ukraine: Implementation and first results // The Russian Peasant Studies. 2019. V.4. №2. P. 138-159.

DOI: 10.22394/2500-1809-2019-4-2-138-159

Annotation

Local self-government is a structuring element of the institutional environment; thus, its functioning determines the development of territories. The trend of municipal reforming appeared in the countries of Western Europe as early as the mid-1970s due to the general federalization and the empowerment of local authorities. Later similar reforms began in the post-Soviet countries. In 2015, Ukraine adopted the Conception of reforming local self-government and territorial organization of power. According to this Conception, the hierarchy of state power was to be optimized and a new administrative-territorial structure reflecting the contemporary system of social and economic relations in the regions of Ukraine was to be formed. The article considers the evolution of the administrative-territorial and municipal structure of the Ukrainian regions, analyzes the international experience of the reform, and identifies the essence of the municipal reform of 2015 highlighting its strengths and weaknesses.

Keywords

local self-government, local authorities, municipal reform, state administration, system of management, community, institutional environment

About the author

Gusakov Timur Yu., Junior Researcher, Center for Agrarian Studies, Russian Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public Administration. 119571, Moscow, Vernadskogo Prosp., 82.
E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 

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2017. Vol.2. №1

Regional practices of business and the authorities interaction (the Russian North-West case)

Mar 30 2017

Bozhkov O.B., Ignatova S.N. Regional practices of business and the authorities interaction (the Russian North-West case) // The Russian Peasant Studies. 2017. V.2. №1. pp. 115-130.

DOI: 10.22394/2500-1809-2017-2-1-115-130

Annotation

The coordination of interests, cooperation and confrontation between the local authorities  and business within the rural society play an important role in the development  of rural Russia. The authors believe that the function of creating the rural business climate  belongs to the regional authorities, while the local self-government lacks the levers  of interaction with entrepreneurs. The success of entrepreneurial activities in agriculture  is determined both by the strategy of local (and regional) leaders in the industry,  and by human and social capital of rural enterprises’ managers. There is an obvious  “patrimonial” model of management, in which the head of the district develops an internal  policy based on one’s own goals and objectives with an eye on the regional requirements.  This policy either encourages the development of agriculture at the local level,  or only supports its preservation without any prospects for growth. Such conclusions  are based on the results of long-term studies in the peripheral agricultural areas of  non-Black-Earth regions of the Russian Federation. Despite the territorial proximity and  similarity of geography and climate, each area under study has its own strategy for the  development of agricultural business. Thus, the most interesting and various practices  can be observed at the district level due to the specific conditions for the local agricultural  enterprises. The authors confirmed their initial assumption that it is necessary  to conduct a typological analysis of territories and to form clusters of similar (in many  ways) areas to develop a single model of rural development for the Russian Federation. 

Keywords

ocal authorities, business environment, agricultural production, practices of interaction

About the authors

Bozhkov Oleg B., Senior Researcher, Sociological Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences; Head of the Research Center “Biographical Foundation”. 190005, Saint Petersburg, 7 Krasnoarmeiskay St., 25/14.
E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 
Ignatova Svetlana N., Researcher, Sociological Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences. 190005, St. Petersburg, 7 Krasnoarmeiskay st., 25/14.
E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.  

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Russian Peasant Studies. Scientific journal

Center for Agrarian studies of the Russian Presidental Academy of National Economy and Public Administration (RANEPA)

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