Political processes can have profound impacts on the structure and operation of spaces. Changes in political processes may produce new ways to organize and use space, a fundamental fact that once again is being demonstrated in the nations of central Europe and northern Eurasia that recently replaced communist regimes with more democratic governments. This doctoral dissertation improvement project will focus on the relationship between political activism and community identity in post-Soviet cities of Russia. Special emphasis will be given to assessing the role of political activism in the formation of new community and territorial identities within cities and the degree to which those new identities affect the agendas and behavior of people active in politics. Archival research, detailed interviews, and surveys will be used to conduct a comparative analysis of 'committees of self-governance' in Moscow, and secondary data will be examined to determine broader political and economic trends in urban centers throughout Russia. This research will provide valuable information and insights into the dramatic transformations of political and urban structure in Russia, and it also will extend and refine theories developed in Western contexts regarding reciprocal interactions between place and politics. As a doctoral dissertation improvement award, this award also will provide support to enable a promising student to establish a strong independent research career.
