One of the consequences of the political and social transformations of the second half of the 20th and early 21st centuries was the deindustrialization of the territory of the former USSR, due to the new economic rules of the global market. However, industrialism has not disappeared, and the industries themselves, including the extraction and processing of natural resources, are still the most important sectors of the economies of most countries in the world, including Russia. This interesting discrepancy between the two discourses — the transition to new science-intensive technologies on the one hand, and the preservation of the industrial complex as an integral element of modern society — in itself is of interest, that we propose to transfer to an academic discussion.
Many scientists have focused their research on the changes taking place in the territories of the recent active development of industry in the post-Soviet space, in particular, the problematization of the transition to post-industrialism. Somewhere, the industrial infrastructure, the workers involved in the industry, and the power dynamics between different actors are adapt to the new conditions, keeping production at the centre of their activities. In other cases, there are changes in the social order, employment structure and, often, the very composition of industrial society. Research on these processes is especially important for understanding how global economic trends, social policies of companies and the state affect the social structure of communities.
The organizers of the section invite researchers from the fields of anthropology, sociology, political science, urban studies, philosophy, history, geography, cultural studies and economics, and anyone interested in a theoretical understanding of the changes taking place within an industrial society.