Savchenko Anatoly

Russian Province: From PERESTROIKA To…

On the basis of the sociological material collected during two expeditions to the southern cities of the Far East, the author investigates the current state of the Russian province in the light of the transformations initiated by perestroika. The analysis conducted by A.Savchenko shows that one of the main trends in the Russian province is spatial fragmentation. In small towns, as opposed to large ones, transition processes have not been completed. At the same time, these processes can hardly be called controlled; rather, they result from adaptation to the destruction of the Soviet economic and social structures. The scope of this destruction leaves the province with little chance to overcome decline on its own.

DOI: 10.30570/2078-5089-2014-74-3-110-125

OVERCOME HISTORY? MACROSOCIOLOGICAL APPROACH TOWARDS UNDERSTANDING PAST AND PROJECTING FUTURE OF RUSSIA (Rozov N.S. Track and Pass: Macrosociological Foundations of Russia’s Strategies in 21 Century. – Moscow: ROSSPEN, 2011)

According to the opinion of A.Vashchuk and A.Savchenko, the key word for understanding the book under review is “discussion” since its author illuminates core problems and possible directions of finding ways to solve them rather than provides evaluations and gives receipts. If this book draws enough attention and provokes broad discussion, the controversial nature of many of its statements will become one of the main factors of success. The worst scenario for the book is the situation if it attracts only a small number of experts. In this case the book only has chances to be dismantled into separate fragments for future criticism, and “the wood” would not be seen for “the trees”.

DOI: 10.30570/2078-5089-2011-62-3-184-189