A sociological analysis of spatial segregation of Ulaan-Baatar

The research presents a sociological analysis of spatial segregation of Ulaanbaatar, the capital of Mongolia. The authors investigate a city as a social organism and examine the aspects of its social space based on the views of R. Park, E. Burgess, L. Wirth and others. Considering Chicago as a social laboratory, these members of the Chicago school of sociology have studied the problematic adaptation of rural and international migrants to the urban environment and thereby have laid the groundwork for urban sociology. The theoretical and methodological principles of the Chicago school allows one to study the problems of the modern post-socialist cities faced with increased migration flows and social stratification of the population and, as a consequence, spatial differentiation. The capital of Mongolia experiences the intensified urbanization processes today and can be referred to this category of cities. Ethnic segregation has already taken place in Ulaanbaatar in the early 20th century. Nowadays, the determinant of the city includes social stratification as a result of the social and economic crisis caused by the transition to the market economy and the significant population growth because of rural migrants.