Stay or Leave? Arctic Youth Prospects and Sustainable Futures of the Russian Arctic Communities

Abstract

Based on quantitative and qualitative analysis, this paper attempts to answer a research question that is critical for many Arctic communities: “What makes local youth want to leave?” Using the Russian Arctic cities of Naryan-Mar, Salekhard, and Novy Urengoy (Nenets and Yamalo-Nenets regions) as case studies, this article explores how local youth contribute to social sustainability and define the futures of their Arctic cities. The study identifies new variables relevant to the youth cohort built on the Urban Sustainability Index and social sustainability model. Based on 400+ questionnaires and interviews with Indigenous and non-Indigenous youth, education professionals, and public officials, this study looks at the youth’s educational and professional strategies, social activities and cultural consumption, migration patterns, and civic engagement in a broader context. This article also discusses how local youth feel disempowered in building their futures and highlights the importance of access to educational opportunities and wider career choices in the Arctic.

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“…В связи с вышеизложенным актуализируется вопрос изучения способов притяжения молодежи в арктический регион, что требует определения особенностей миграционной мотивации. В исследованиях анализируются социально-экономические, климатические и личностно-семейные причины миграции в АЗ РФ в сочетании с оценками привлекательности территории (Недосека, Карбаинов, 2020;Недосека, Шарова, 2020;Симакова, 2019;Ljovkin et al, 2020;Osipova, Maklashova, 2016;Rozanova-Smith, 2021). Социологические исследования, касающиеся миграционных планов и стратегий в контексте уровня и качества жизни населения, определения «болевых» точек эконо-мического и социального развития регионов, также выявляют общественное мнение о причинах миграционного оттока (Иванова, Клюкина, 2019;Potravnaya, Tishkova, 2022;Simakova et al, 2022;Pitukhina et al, 2021).…”

Shaping Tomorrow’s Arctic

“…Rozanova-Smith [4] takes up the youth perspective, with a focus on two Russian cities, and with applications across the Arctic. Through her research she found that "the Arctic communities face tremendous risks associated with youth "flight", making their future social sustainability uncertain".…”

“…. the engagement of young people in defining problems and drawing up policies is vital to allow younger generations to have control over their own futures in the Arctic and responsibility for the future and social sustainability of their communities" [4].…”

The Impact of Environmental and Anthropogenic Factors on the Migration of the Rural Arctic Population of Western Siberia

“…Common trends seen in nearly all Arctic regions in the future are aging populations, more balanced gender ratios between men and women, increased population concentration into larger urban settlements, and the depopulation of smaller settlements [16]. Rozanova-Smith (2021) noted that "as young professionals continue to leave, resettling compatriots and hiring shift labour may contribute to the vitality of more resilient regions" [75]. Contrariwise, youth's migration outflow from the region would impact the demographic imbalance social and food security of the region due to the increased economic burden of the government for supporting depopulated communities with a high yield of an ageing population, and finally, jeopardise demographic sustainability of YNAO.…”