Arenas, Rituals, and Regimes in the Modern City (theoretical and methodological foundations of the analysis of urban politics)

DOI: https://doi.org/10.34680/urbis-2022-2(3)-119-125

Yuri Pustovoit
National Research Tomsk State University, Tomsk, Russia
Siberian Institute of Management – branch of The Russian Presidential Academy
of National Economy and Public Administration, Novosibirsk, Russia
[email protected]

ORCID: 0000-0002-0934-2723

Abstract

The paper proposes theoretical and methodological principles, conceptual apparatus, and substantiation of the prospects of empirical data analysis for the research of the political factors underlying urban development. Based on the theory of urban regimes (С. Stone) and the theory of interactive rituals (R. Collins), the author proposes to use a set of interrelated concepts of “arena”, “interactive ritual”, “mobilization agenda”, “emotional energy”, “urban regime”, “urban ideology” to explain high rates of urban well-being in some cities and its decline in other cities. It is shown that a set of factors influence the main characteristics of the regime and communicative practices both within the elite and between the elite and the citizens, based on different types of power relations (collective or distributive power), which subsequently in various degrees limits the number of participants and topics for discussion in a process of making a decision. To test the hypothesis, the article proposes the empirical comparison on the ground of contrasting cases method and provides the substantiation of choosing diametrically opposed cases of Siberian cities (Novosibirsk and Novokuznetsk). In the late 80s, cities had little chance for growth, development, and viability of economy, politics, and culture, but the political processes had led to different trajectories of power groups and regimes formation, according to the models of “coordination” and “control”.

Keywords: arena, interactive ritual, urban regime, mobilization agenda, emotional energy, coordination, control.

REFERENCES

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About author

Yuri A. Pustovoit
National Research Tomsk State University;
Siberian Institute of Management – branch of The Russian Presidential Academy
of National Economy and Public Administration, Novosibirsk, Russia
E-mail: [email protected] 

For citation:
Pustovoit Yu. A. Arenas, Rituals, and Regimes in the Modern City (theoretical and methodological foundations of the analysis of urban politics). Urbis et Orbis. Microhistory and Semiotics of the City. 2022. 2 (3). P. 119–125. DOI: https://doi.org/10.34680/urbis-2022-2(3)-119-125