ИСТИНА

Introduction: • The transition from state socialism to neoliberal capitalism has led to the increased socio-economic polarization of cities in Russia. Small cities suffer from peripheralization and experience decline. Since most of the small Russian cities were and still are manufacturing, the decline is similar to that of “western” old industrial cities. • Obvious degradation of cityscapes due to the lack of funding. • De jure the national government advocates self-governance, but de facto small cities have little capacity for promoting change and own decision making due to the existence of a rigid power vertical and distributive fiscal policy. • Transformation of the cityscape as an indicator of urban decline/revival. In this context, productive do-it-yourself (DIY) urbanism may mark the rise of civil society and signify a step towards urban revival. Theoretical background: The concept of urban revival and related topics (revitalisation, renewal, regeneration, etc.) which have attracted growing attention in the current debates in urban studies, planning, and local and regional development (Carter 2016; Jones and Evans 2013; Glaeser 2011; Power et al. 2010; Van Agtmael and Bakker 2016; Watcher and Zeuli 2014). The concept of urban revival focuses on economic, social, and environmental transformations in old industrial cities and informs policies on tackling economic decline, depopulation, social and political marginalisation, and cityscape degradation. Methodological Approach: • Case studies. Four cities were chosen in line with comparative selection strategy (Seawright & Gerring 2008): Vyksa, Nizhegorodskay oblast’ – manufacturing city, officially recognized as a single industry town, population in 2017 ca 53,4 thousand people; Borovichy, Novgorodskay oblast’ – manufacturing city, officially recognized as a single industry town, population in 2017 ca 50,8 thousand people; Kasimov, Ryazan oblast’ – manufacturing and touristic city (part of the Russian touristic route “the Golden Ring” which unites cities with historical and cultural heritage), population in 2017 ca 30,7 thousand people; Rostov Veliky, Yaroslavl’ oblast’ – manufacturing and touristic city (part of the Russian touristic route “the Golden Ring”), population in 2017 ca 31 thousand people. • Content analysis of available local planning and policy documents. • Field research in 2017/2018. In-depth semi-structured interviews with the local actors identified via snowballing technique, participant and non-participant observations. Results: • Hierarchy of actors in cityscape change: Kasimov/Rostov Veliky: local administration – SMEs (alter public spaces) & civil society, e.g. homeowners’ associations and the like (act in residential public-private spaces) Borovichy/Vyksa: main business – SMEs – local administration. Civil society is almost inactive. • DIY interventions are evident only in residential quarters of the cities, mostly where homeowners’ associations or the like are formed. • Identified DIY interventions include organized parking, play- and sports grounds, benches/garbage bins/street lighting, and urban gardening. However, urban gardening is not truly a “productive” DIY intervention, rather a hobby. Conclusions: • Factors influencing the perception and transformation of the cityscape: functional zones, quality of the infrastructure, features of local economy (business size & embeddedness), the activity of the local community and its ability toward self-organization. • Disjointed and incoherent redevelopments of several urban landscapes (Borovichy and Rostov Veliky) vs urban revival, where processes of cityscape redevelopment are parallel to the regeneration of economy and activation of civil society (Vyksa and Kasimov). • The negligible amount of DIY interventions – is it the inactiveness of civil society or lack of the right to the city? References: Carter D. (Ed.) (2016) Remaking Post-Industrial Cities: Lessons from North America and Europe. New York and London: Routledge. Glaeser, E. (2011) The Triumph of the City. London: Pan Books. Jones P. and Evans J. (2013) Urban regeneration in the UK: boom, bust and recovery. Second Edition. London: Sage. Power A., Ploger J. and Winkler A (2010) Phoenix cities: the fall and rise of great industrial cities. Case studies on poverty, place and policy. Bristol: The Policy Press. Van Agtmael, A. and Bakker, F (2016) The Smartest Places on Earth. Why Rustbelts Are the Emerging Hotspots of Global Innovation. New York: Public Affairs. Watcher, S.M. and Zeuli, K.A. (2014) Revitalizing American Cities. Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania Press.