Monotowns and the political economy of industrial restructuring in Russia

Abstract

During the 2008-2009 economic crisis, Russia's monotowns - one-industry towns left from the Soviet era - gained widespread attention as potential sources of social protest and unrest. Will such worries resurface under current economic conditions? While fears about monotowns were exaggerated during the last economic crisis, Russia's leadership has reason to remain concerned. Despite the dramatic transformations of the last two decades, Russia's post-Soviet industrial landscape has largely survived intact, leaving a significant number of monotowns with unprofitable enterprises in a precarious position. Yet given its emphasis on social stability, we can expect the government to continue subsidies, both explicit and hidden, that seek to maintain employment and avoid social conflict, but that preserve the country's inefficient industrial geography.

Publisher

Taylor & Francis

Publication Date

6-22-2016

Publication Title

Post-Soviet Affairs

Department

Politics

Document Type

Article

DOI

https://dx.doi.org/10.1080/1060586X.2015.1054103

Keywords

Monotowns, Protest, Social stability, Restructuring

Language

English

Format

text

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