Aim. An assessment is made of the goals, objectives and prospects of the Northern Dimension project (“ND”) using the methods of spatial discourse analysis Methodology. The database “Integrum” is the information source for the discourse analysis. At the first stage, articles from two federal newspapers -“Nezavisimaya Gazeta” (“Independent Newspaper”) and Rossiyskaya Gazeta (“Russian Newspaper”) - were selected for the content-analysis. At the second and the third stages, quantitative methods were used to obtain information about the development of the discourse in time and space. Result. It is shown that despite the declared depoliticization of the format, “ND” remains highly dependent on the level and nature of relations between Russia and the EU. Due to the gradually freezing cooperation, understanding of the goals and objectives of the program, as well as the form of spatial representation of the format and the level of involvement in the discourse of individual territories within Russia and abroad, dramatically changed. At the first stage, the “ND” is perceived as “an alternative channel of communication” with the EU. Border regions and a few neighboring countries are represented as “guides for Russia” on the way to Europe. At the second stage, the program is considered as one of the projects of cross-border cooperation, and neighboring countries (except Finland) are perceived as an obstacle to the dialogue with the EU. It is shown that the crisis of the “ND” has a discursive nature, However, the program itself may become one of the pillars for restoring Russia’s political relations with the European Union in the medium term. Research implications. The research results can be used in the higher education system to train geographers and specialists in the field of international relations.

Aim. The paper reveals the key elements of the electoral-geographical structure of Mexico, developing within the modern phase. Methodology. The analysis of the general election results and of the theoretic material, devoted to particular electoral campaigns in Mexico that have been taking place since the beginning of democratization (since 2000), is conducted. The research relies on the methods of analysis as well as uses statistical, cartographic, corporativistic and structural approaches. Results. The research reveals the major features of the electoral figure in each of the states, which in total form the electoral-georgaphical structure of the whole state. Research implications. The research conducted considerably enriches the country-study material on electoral geography within the region of Latin America, as well as generates an image of the peculiarities of the political life inside the developing state in condition of democratization.

Aim. The paper analyses the existing approaches in national systems of geographical education to the development of global understanding in different countries around the world Methodology. Use is made of the collected domestic and foreign sources of containing information about the main directions of development of global understanding in national systems of geographical education. The study uses descriptive, historical and bibliometric methods. Results. The concept of ‘global understanding’ is defined and its main elements and major trends in the development of geographical education in the countries of the world, focused on the formation of global thinking of future generations, are described. Research implications. The paper presents the synthesis of analytical materials that characterize the formation of global understanding as the most important direction for the development of geographical education in the world, which makes it possible to show the prospects for improving the content and methods of domestic school geography.

Aim. The paper identifies the main factors and possible prospects for the development of environmentally positive processes in the World economy in the first two decades of this century. Methodology. The research is based on the consideration of accumulated theoretical and statistical materials on the environmental characteristics of the development of the world economy, macro-regions and countries of the world. A group of key factors is analyzed that influence the emergence and development of environmentally positive processes on the world map in the last two decades. Based on the economic and geographical interpretation of the environmental curve of S. Kuznets, we predict possible prospects for the development of eco-logically positive processes in macro-regions and countries of the world. Results. The increasing complexity of the relationship between economic growth and its environmental consequences in the first decades of the present century indicates the beginning of a qualitatively new stage in the development of the world economy and the environmental situation on the Earth. The deterioration of the environmental situation in the cores of economic development in the second half of the XX century was replaced by multidirectional environmental trends in macro-regions of the world and individual countries in the first decades of the XXI century. In the coming decades, the environmental situation in the world will become spatially more complex, becoming more and more mosaic. Research implications. In the conditions of almost total domination of alarmism in modern scientific literature and the pronounced predominance of research on a wide range of escalating environmental problems, for the formation of an adequate ecological and geographical picture of the world, it is impossible to ignore the increasingly clearly manifested environmentally positive processes. Otherwise, this complex and contradictory map is bound to be incomplete and one-sided.

Aim. The purpose of the paper is to determine criteria for assessing the religious affiliation of the population of various countries and regions, as well as reveal their advantages and disadvantages for human geography investigations. Methodology. Various sources containing statistical information about the religious affiliation are considered. The generalization is used to combine the sources into groups according to the generality of approaches, level of reliability and degree of objectivity. Use is also made of descriptive, historical and statistical methods. Results. Two main criteria for assessing the religious affiliation are identified: (i) ethnic and (ii) cultural and civilizational. In the first case, data sources rely on the condition of the identity of ethnic and religious affiliation, which is currently extremely rare. In accordance with the second criterion, which is more valid in modern conditions, the sources determine the individual’s religious affiliation based on answer to the corresponding question of the census or sociological survey. As a third, reserve criterion (in the absence of data based on the first two), an assessment of religious affiliation through the level of religiosity of the population is proposed. Research implications. The generalization of analytical materials on the religious affiliation of the population of countries and regions allows us to conduct comprehensive study on the geography of religion and to predict the development of the global religious landscape. An assessment of the number of adherents of various religions, conducted by the authors on the example of such a multi-religious and multi-ethnic country as Russia, makes it possible to develop recommendations for organizations involved in state-church regulation and the formation of policy frameworks in the field of national relations and migration processes.

Aim. The paper identifies regional characteristics, as well as intraregional and local differences in the population dynamics in rural areas of Yakutia. Methodology. An analysis is performed of the trends and regional specifics of population dynamics in rural areas (uluses) of Sakha Republic (Yakutia) for 1989-2019 based on statistical, comparative-geographical, cartographic and expeditionary research methods. Results. Differences in the dynamics of the population of rural areas of Yakutia in relationship with the geographical location, ethnic factor and features of economic activity are established. The shift of the rural population and its growth occurred in the regions of Central Yakutia such as Namsky, Churapchinsky and Gorny, in historical areas of the settlement of Yakuts engaged in traditional meat and dairy cattle breeding and meat herd horse breeding. The largest decrease in the population due to migration outflow occurred in Momsky and Zhiganskyulus with a more Northern location and poor transport accessibility to the regional center. Research in the districts demonstrates the impact of the location and transport accessibility of the ulus to Yakutsk, the share of the indigenous population and their ethnicity, the development of the social sphere and housing construction, and the dynamics of significant economic activities in terms of employment on the population dynamics. Research implications. A huge amount of various statistical data on the dynamics of rural population of one of the largest regions, Yakutia, is examined. This study helps complement the demographic picture of rural population of the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia), as well as to get an idea of the perspectives for rural development.

Aim. The paper identifies the factors for the development of innovative industries in Russia on the example of nanoindustry, as well as demonstrates the main world and Russian patterns of the process of innovation diffusion. Methodology. The research is based on consideration of the accumulated theoretical material on the problems of innovation diffusion, its generalization and application to the geography of the Russian nanoindustry. A number of indicators related to the diffusion of knowledge are analyzed, as well as their manifestation within Russia. Results. The primary factors of innovation diffusion considered on the example of the nanoindustry in Russia correspond to global trends and do not contradict them. In the future, the center-peripheral model of the domestic nanoindustry under the influence of space friction forms several cores, which are strengthened over time and will be strengthened in the short and medium term. The technology is not spread along the periphery due to the gravitational effect of agglomerations. Research implications. The research reflects the specifics of the development of nanoindustry, which can be used in strategic planning of the industry.

Aim. We have identified the cities of the Russian Federation in which the formation of a global financial center is possible. Methodology. Information about the activities of global financial centers (GFCs) is collected and analyzed, and a list of cities and territories of the Russian Federation in which GFCs are possible to be formed is determined. The basis for the study was the Z/Yen GFCI rating of 2020, which focuses on global financial centers as one of the most important elements of the modern global financial system. As a key element in creating global financial centers in Russian cities, we propose to use territories of priority social and economic development. To justify the choice of cities, a SWOT analysis is carried out using the Churchman-Ackoff method, as a result of which a score is assigned to each city. Use is also made of statistical, historical, and cartographic methods. Results. The GFCs already included in the Z/Yen GFCI rating with promising cities of the Russian Federation in terms of the city’s GDP are analyzed and compared. A number of Russian cities are identified that could become global financial centers in the future. As a result of the SWOT analysis, strengths and weaknesses, as well as opportunities and threats associated with the implementation of the GFC project in the cities of the Russian Federation, are discussed. Research implications. The results obtained can be used to assess the potential of the city as a future financial center. The methodology for assessing financial centers is developed.

Aim. The paper studies the manifestation of the ‘path dependence effect’ in agriculture in depressed regions (for example, Smolensk region) based on the examination of factors of various origins and the possibilities of overcoming the inheritance of historical development. Methodology. The analysis of the occurrence and factors of the formation of the ‘path dependence effect’ in agriculture of one of the depressed regions is carried out. For the forming factors, new indicators of the growing degree days are calculated, which make it possible to predict the emergence of new areas of agricultural specialization, based on changes in the agroclimatic potential. For determining factors, a retrospective analysis of the formation of agricultural systems is carried out, which ensures the stability of some industries till the present days. The study relies on the comparative analysis as well as on typological, comparative historical and factor analysis. Results. The important role and the need to use the results of inheritance from historical development to interpret the current state of territorial systems is shown. The influence of the forming and determining factors of the ‘path dependence effect’ is established. It is revealed that the inheritance of emerging agricultural systems depends largely on the natural component, and a change in this factor does not entail a change in specialization. The ‘path dependence effect’ in agriculture is mainly related to the socio-economic component of development. The increasing influence of previous development in the economies of depressed regions is demonstrated. The vectors of the possible development of the territory based on innovative directions are proposed. Research implications. Directions for changing the trajectory of the development of the agricultural industry in the conditions of a depressed economy are suggested.

Aim. The paper justifies from the transport and logistics standpoints the choice of locations of solid municipal waste management system facilities on the materials of the Primorsky krai (within the framework of the creation of the territorial scheme of waste management). Methodology. Use is made of the data (information) on the technical and economic parameters of the road network of the region, as well as information about the places and volumes of solid municipal waste generation, places of their sorting, processing and burial. Results. A promising scheme of transportation of solid municipal waste on the territory of the Primorsky krai at the municipal level is scientifically substantiated and developed. For the Primorsky krai it is proposed to allocate five technological zones, taking into account the perspective role and value of the transport factor. Rail and maritime transport are recommended for hard-to-reach areas. The average range of waste transportation within the region will decrease in the future to 37 kilometers. The southern part of the Primorsky krai will remain in the future the most problematic area in terms of the organization of the solid municipal waste management system. This is due to the concentration of significant amounts of industrial production in the southern part of the region and a slight decrease in the specific formation of solid municipal waste in the future. Research Implications. The result of the work was used in 2018 in the territorial scheme of waste management in the Primorsky krai and in the development of relevant regulatory and legal acts at the regional level. The obtained result justifies the need to change the places of collection, recycling and recycling of waste in the territory of the Primorsky krai taking into account the transport factor.