Diversity of the Suburb

Suburbanization in Siberian Region (the Case of Irkutsk)

Abstract

Using the example of Irkutsk, the article considers the dynamics and development of suburbanization processes in large Siberian cities. Using the statistical data such as population size and migration patterns, the author shows the dynamics of the suburbia’s growth resulting from the relocation of the residents outside the city borders. Using socio-anthropological research, the author develops a classification of suburban settlements based on the interaction that the city dwellers have with non-urban space. It is demonstrated that classical models of suburbia are of little help when it comes to the analysis of the diversity of suburbanization processes in the Siberian provinces.