Russia’s spatial development and the emerging greater Eurasia: factors, trajectories and priorities

Abstract

Contemporary Russia’s spatial development is markedly affected by profound geoeconomic and geopolitical shifts, progressively more visible in terms of magnitude and repercussions. For Russia, the positive impact of these changes has become increasingly linked to the emergence of the Greater Eurasia macro-structure. This article aims to develop a contemporary conceptual approach to Greater Eurasia as a socio-geographical mega-structure given Russia’s oppo­sition to the collective West. Additionally, it seeks to identify, using this approach, the strate­gic interests, opportunities and limitations of Russia’s spatial dynamics on the path towards Eurasian continentalism, which promotes transboundary cooperation and mutually supportive co-development of Eurasian states. The focus of this contribution is on the most crucial con­temporary trends and principal contradictions in the transformation of the Russian space. The study provides a picture of the framework of ‘greater’ Eurasian integration, emphasising its connection to intensifying interregional and inter-municipal interactions. A rationale is out­lined for shifting the country’s economic activity towards the east and north, with priorities identified given the inertia of spatial processes and the growing significance of Siberia in the Russian space. The potential and efficiency of prolonging the ‘Moscow-centric’ arrangement of the Russian space are assessed from the perspective of ensuring the multidirectional develop­ment of the latter. Special attention is paid to the ‘municipalisation’ of approaches to the strate­gic planning of Russia’s spatial development in the context of Eurasian continental integration.