Trends in Urbanization Processes in the National Republics of the Ural-Volga Region During the Late 20th and Early 21st Centuries

Introduction. Urbanization constitutes a significant factor shaping the contemporary state and future trajectories of a nation’s demographic and social development. The consequences of urbanization processes include the expansion of cities, the intensification of agglomeration trends, and alterations in the size, distribution, and composition of the population. The latter is of particular relevance for the Indigenous peoples of the national republics of the Ural-Volga region – specifically the Finno-Ugric and Turkic groups – who experienced a relatively late integration into the urban milieu. The objective of this research is to identify the key patterns in the distribution, dynamics, and proportion of the urban population within the national republics of the Ural-Volga region from the second half of the 20th century to the early 21st century. This article provides a novel comparative analysis of urbanization processes, examining both the general population and the Indigenous peoples of these republics through an ethnic lens for the period under review. Materials and Methods. Using descriptive statistics, the author analyzes data from the 1989, 2002, 2010, and 2020 Soviet and Russian national censuses, current demographic records, and regional strategic planning documents to identify key trends in agglomeration processes. The analysis focuses on six national republics of the Ural-Volga region: those with indigenous Finno-Ugric (Mari El, Mordovia, Udmurtia) and Turkic populations (Bashkortostan, Tatarstan, Chuvashia). Results and Discussion. The republics under examination exhibit a center-periphery pattern in the development of their urban settlement networks. A distinct group of core cities has emerged, situated within the most socio-economically advanced territories of these republics, where agglomeration processes are underway. The distribution of the urban population reflects a pan-Russian trend of population concentration in major cities, regional capitals, and agglomerations. The national republics are distinguished by the specific dynamics in the scale and level of urbanization, observable for both the total population and the titular ethnic groups. The Republic of Tatarstan and the Udmurt Republic exemplify two contrasting trends: the former demonstrates a consistent increase in both the size and proportion of the urban population, whereas the latter experiences a decline. In the remaining republics, the dynamics of absolute and relative urbanization metrics are less stable, with periods of growth periodically alternating with decline, and vice versa; the nature of these changes can vary significantly. Conclusion. A comparative regional analysis of these issues allows for an examination of how specific regional and ethnic populations are integrated into the urban milieu. This approach is instrumental in identifying prospects for socio-demographic development and in devising effective policy mechanisms for national, social, and demographic governance, aimed at safeguarding demographic potential during urbanization.