Implementation of Mega-Projects for the Development of Problematic Territories of Siberia and Ural of Russia

Abstract

Phenomenon of use of megaprojects as an instrument of territorial development has been poorly studied by the domestic (Russian) economic science that results in deficit of research directed on the integrated comparative analysis of processes of formation and realization of territorial megaprojects. Authors of the article set the task partly to fill this gap. Using the example of the historic infrastructural megaprojects (construction of Trans-Siberian Railroad (Transsib) and Baikal-Amur Mainline (BAM)). The authors examined the reasons for their successfulness and failures. The plans of the Russian Federal Government concerning the modernization these infrastructural megaprojects are revealed. Russia started another strategically crucial for the region of Ural and Russia in general megaproject "Ural Industrial – Ural Polar". The authors carried out an analysis of the stages of the life cycle of this contemporary important project and proved that it turned into a number of separate local investment projects which are not connected by a common conception. This circumstance lead to a considerable weakening of the cumulative integration results after its realization.

DOI: 10.5901/mjss.2015.v6n3s1p586