Transformation features in rural settlement system of belarus

Abstract

Introduction. The sustainability of the rural settlement is a key land use planning objective in the present-day socio-economic environment. This issue is particularly relevant Belarus as the most urbanized country of the European region. The retrospective analysis is the most effective tool for studying the transformational processes underway in the settlement system. The mission of this article is to study the transformation of the rural settlement pattern in Belarus. Materials and methods. The research methodology encompasses general scientific methods (a system approach, a retrospective analysis) and special transdisciplinary methods (cartographic modeling backed by GIS tools). Population census data, open-access cartographic sources and land-use planning documents were studied, as well. Results. Three periods were identified in the history of rural settlement in Belarus: pre-revolutionary (1897–1917), Soviet (1917–1991) and contemporary ones (1991–present). Within these periods, transformational processes were particularly active. A retrospective analysis of the structure and spatial organization of rural settlement processes was performed for each period. Special features of the Belarus rural settlement structure were highlighted. They include polarization, growing population shares and sizes of major rural populated areas, the “drain” of large and medium-sized populated areas, and the degradation of small ones. Conclusions. The retrospective analysis enabled the author to identify the most significant historical periods in the history of rural settlement. Any settlement transformation was mainly driven by social and political factors. By summarizing the findings, the author identified two patterns of transformation applicable to rural settlement patterns: development and degradation. Three types of spatial reorganization of rural populated areas were formulated: relocation to the city, relocation to rural populated areas, or settlement system centres, and relocation to ordinary rural populated areas. Further research undertakings will focus on conceptualizing the spatial organization model of the rural settlement system.