“Frontier” Regions: Territorial Identity and the Perception of “Specialness”
Journal: Russian Social Science Review
Year: 2020

This article presents the results of a comprehensive study conducted by the ZIRCON Research Group in four frontier regions of Russia (Crimea, Primorsky Krai, and Kaliningrad and Murmansk oblasts) and two non-frontier control regions (Kostroma Oblast and Chuvashia).1 The research methods included collection of data on the current situation in the regions and a series of focus group discussions that included representatives of small and medium-sized businesses, civil society, and the expert commun