Forms of Social Activities in New Territorial Communities

Abstract

The article presents the results of the first stage of the research devoted to the intense development the suburban area in certain Russian cities as a place of residence of the middle class. The authors describe the current Russian studies of the urban behavior; they prove the importance to study new forms of urban districts. Forms, methods and design of the research are proposed. The authors conclude that a special form of social solidarity and social environment are being formed in the suburban area; this environment differs from that of the traditional districts of the big cities. The authors give an attempt to compare the characteristics of the cities. There is an asymmetry in perceptions and a sense of unity among residents of neighborhoods. The group cohesion is fundamental for the group territorial solidarity. Another focus of the article is atmosphere of good will and trust, the loss of vigilance typical for the residents of the multi-story buildings of the traditional districts. New isolated neighborhood units strengthen the mutual support between their residents. There are four factors that help develop solidarity: 1) low-rise buildings that facilitate closer relations with neighbors; 2) spatial organization, in particular, small neighborhoods fairly isolated from each other; 3) positive thinking of the residents of new neighborhoods sharing the sense of novelty (houses, infrastructure, new peoples); 4) territorial identity which is based on people`s heterogeneous support coming to live in new city`s districts.