On methods of coverage of sociopolitical aspects of urban development by social disciplines

Abstract

The author has identified a trend towards the politicization of urban planning in Russia, caused by a set of factors. The author believes that students should be timely taught to adequately respond to the attempts of the leading political parties and movements to influence the urban planning industry. These attempts represent the imposition of particular urban plans for their benefit, the resolution of urban planning conflicts in the best interests of particular parties, etc. According to the author, who has accumulated an extensive lecturing experience, this goal is attainable by offering social disciplines, including Sociology, Sociology of Urban Development, Bases of Social Regulation and Public Relations, to bachelor students, majoring in urban planning at the Moscow State University of Civil Engineering. The author has considered several issues of teaching methods, in particular, he has identified the list of political problems to be analyzed and the type of classes to be organized, etc. In the report, the author makes a conclusion that the focus on the sociopolitical aspects of urban planning in the courses of social disciplines improves the students’ understanding of the nature of urban planning as a democratic practice.