Social Structuration in the Transitional Space of Russian Megapolis

Abstract

Vladimir Il’in — Professor, Chair for Sociology of Culture and Communications, Saint Petersburg State University. Address: 7-9, Universitetskaya Embankment, St. Petersburg, 199034, Russian Federation. E-mail: ivi-2002@yandex.ru

This article — essentially a re-work of chapters that have not been included in the book ‘Byt i bytie molodezhi rossiiskogo megapolisa’ (The Lifestyles and Existence of Russian Urban Youth) — is devoted to a descriptive analysis of certain types of social structuration which take place in some part of a transitional social space, i.e. on streets and in public transport. The empirical study was carried out through observation (participant and formalized), in-depth interviews in St. Petersburg, and the post-hoc analysis of government statistical data, mass surveys, etc. The research is based on the methodology of the pragmatist-constructivist approach. The key category is the notion of structuration of A. Giddens. The approbation and development of this methodology with the application to everyday observation is the primary goal of this article.