Message from the Chairman
Urbs et Orbis. Urban Civilisation in Russia and How It Affects the Country’s Development
The tragic cataclysms that Russia has lived through in the 20th and 21st centuries were largely, and not least of all, due to the complex and dramatic history of Russian cities’ development. The current situation stands apart in that, perhaps for the first time in Russian history, the forces of urban civilisation are, in the worst case, equal, or possibly even exceed the forces and capabilities of its opponents, writes Andrey Bystritskiy, Chairman of the Board of the Foundation for Development and Support of the Valdai Discussion Club.