Small but Resilient. Experts Discussed the Prospects for Preserving Small Towns
Participants of the roundtable Small Towns: Prospects for Preservation and Development presented the results of current research on Russia’s spatial development and the role of small towns in this process. The expert discussion formed part of the A. A. Vysokovsky Conference held at the Higher School of Economics.
Olga Gritsan, Head of the Analytics Department at the Agency for strategic development "CENTER", spoke about a study inspired by the Agency’s work in industrial towns:
“We decided to analyse the characteristics of the contemporary industrial city through the lens of all significant aspects of its life. As a result, we aim to understand whether a new image of industrial cities has emerged and which processes are shaping a new type of industrial city.”
Among the industrial towns examined by the Agency were three small towns in Krasnoyarsk Krai: Borodino, Nazarovo, and Sharypovo. In their analysis, the experts paid particular attention to preserving industrial heritage linked to the Kansko-Achinsk Fuel and Energy Complex, as well as to local culture and individual positioning. They assessed the prerequisites and development potential of these towns and identified promising directions for their socio-economic and socio-cultural development.
The CENTER study formed the basis of documents proposed by participants in an open all-Russian competition to develop master plans for the towns of Krasnoyarsk Krai. Among the key challenges the master plans were expected to address were population decline, local residents’ demand for economic diversification, the transition away from the old industrial model, and the development of new industries. The competitors proposed long-term development strategies that took into account residents’ needs and the specific characteristics of each town.
Concluding her remarks, Olga Gritsan expressed the view that increasing the resilience of small towns depends on diversifying employment, reducing dependence on single-industry enterprises, strengthening the professional capacity of local governance, and participation in federal programmes. These factors, she noted, will be decisive for the future preservation and sustainable development of small towns.
Photo: HSE press service