Economic and Social Changes: Facts, Trends, Forecast (Feb 2017)
Circumpolar Region amid Socio-Spatial Transformation of a Territory (Case Study of Yamal)
Abstract
The article examines the issues of socio-spatial transformation of the Northern territory associated with the development of one of the most important far-reaching oil and gas region of Russian arctic regions. The authors demonstrate the possible solutions to these issues based on interdisciplinary and sociological studies conducted by the authors and their colleagues, including mass surveys of the population of the Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Okrug by representative sample in 2005, 2010 and 2015 and sociological diagnostics of their results in the context of different social groups of respondents (long-term residents, including representatives of native minorities, new settlers, shift personnel). These studies have helped reveal the social issues characteristic of the Arctic region and requirements to scientific support of possible their possible solutions. The authors provide the authorities with the information necessary for the preparation and adoption of effective managerial decisions in the theoretical, methodological and practical discourse; such information cannot be obtained otherwise, for example, using the statistics. This thesis is illustrated by the current situation of indigenous minorities of the North, other population groups, the development of Yamal social potential, qualified personnel retention and recruiting. Studying the Northern specificity of the quality of life of the Russian circumpolar oil- and gas-rich region, the living conditions and relations between various social groups of participants of future neo-industrial territory’s development suggests a conclusion about the need to significantly strengthen the sociological and interdisciplinary scientific support for the proposed Arctic projects and introduce a new methodological approach to the selection of the most relevant research subjects
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