VIABILITY OF THE “UNPROMISING”: LATENT POTENTIAL OF SMALL TOWNS IN RUSSIA: A REVIEW OF THE COLLECTION OF ARTICLES: CHERNYSH M. F., MARKIN V. V. (EDS.) SOTSIOKUL'TURNYI POTENTSIAL MALYKH GORODOV ROSSII [SOCIAL AND CULTURAL POTENTIAL OF SMALL TOWNS IN RUSSI

Abstract

This review describes the collection of articles on the Social and Cultural Potential of Small Towns in Russia, published in 2022, which was prepared by a team of experts from the Institute of Sociology of FCTAS RAS, in collaboration with regional partners. The results of sociological research on contemporary socio-cultural aspects of everyday life in small towns in Russia are analyzed. The Russian small town is considered as a specific (in many ways unique) social and cultural phenomenon with its particular rhythm of life, advantages and disadvantages; the problems hindering the effective development of small towns in our country and the possibilities of their elimination are studied. It is demonstrated that the social and cultural space of a small town depends directly on the general level of social and economic development of a particular town or region. The authors conclude that the successful functioning of small towns is impossible without strong local self-government and constant interaction between regional authorities and representatives of municipal communities. This publication will be useful not only for researchers, but also for local government officials and representatives of authorities at the regional and federal levels.