The Role of Socioeconomic Drivers of Environmental Degradation in Russia's Industrial Regions and their Intersections with Geographical Factors

Abstract A combination of various socioeconomic factors contributes to the environmental degradation in Russia’s industrial areas, specifically through the presence of "hot spots" of heavy metals (i.e., Norilsk, a mining center located in the remote Siberian Arctic) and heavy industry along the densely populated and heavily industrialized Ural belt (which includes several major metallurgical production centers, e.g., Chelyabinsk and Magnitogorsk). These drivers can be attributed to shock industrialization, which was implemented in a short period of time during the Soviet era and emphasized production at the expense of environmental protection; an extensive dependence on natural resources, which results in the "resource curse", i.e., extracting resources and not investing in the future of the area; systemic failures of governance, which are characterized by widespread corruption, inadequate federal oversight, and control of regulators by oligarchs, which all hinder effective regulation; and increasing economic and social inequality, which is further compounded by poverty, demographic changes resulting from labor migration, and the lack of active participation in civil society, which both increases the vulnerability of local populations to pollution. This study examines these factors and how they intersect with geographic factors such as: physical remoteness of the locations, climate, and the vulnerability of terrain. Utilizing a mixed-methods research methodology incorporating qualitative case studies, quantitative geospatial analysis, and historical reviews, this study demonstrates how socioeconomic constraints augment geographic constraints leading to continued pollution and environmental degradation. Examples of these socioeconomic factors augmenting geographic constraints include: the intersection of the mono-industrial economy of Norilsk and permafrost conditions to exacerbate oil spills related to mining activities; the intersection of the high-density urban/industrial conditions in the Ural region and the riverine conditions of the rivers in the region to maintain heavy metal contamination. These findings demonstrate how path-dependent these issues remain due to the legacy of Soviet development and the transition to market-based economies after the fall of the Soviet Union, and provide insights into the potential development of policies that will promote sustainable development. This study also provides new contributions to the field of political ecology by highlighting the importance of examining the socio-spatial dimensions of environmental crises in post-communist countries.