North Caucasus in the design of the spatial development strategy in Russia: problems and opportunities

The research analyzes the social and economic problems of the North Caucasus and the possibilities of their overcoming due to the design of the spatial development strategy of the Russian Federation. The author reveals the main program documents: the Federal Law on Strategic Planning in the Russian Federation and The Strategy for Social and Economic Development of the North Caucasus Federal District until 2025. The investigation identifies the challenges of implementing the tasks in the North Caucasus stated in the program documents, i.e. the unresolved land issue, security problems, and the need to modernize the social and production infrastructure. Besides, the social and economic statistical data are provided; the priority areas for regional development are presented. They include tourism, agro-industrial complex, oil refining, and production potential. The author notes that, in order to reveal the growth points, it is important to take into account the specific nature of the region, promote social modernization and integration of the region’s inhabitants into the Russian society, and create a positive image of the region under review as well.