«DESPITE ALL THE POWER OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY, THERE ARE STILL NOT ENOUGH PEOPLE»: ISSUES OF USSR SPATIAL DEVELOPMENT, IRRIGATION AND HYDROPOWER IN E. Z. VOLKOV SCIENTIFIC HERITAGE
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.17072/2219-3111-2026-3-114-123Keywords:
Volkov Evgeny Zakharovich, territorial organization of economy, spatial development, irrigation, hydropower, USSR population, historical economic geography, history of science and technologyAbstract
Based on unpublished works by Soviet economist E. Z. Volkov (1883–1942), stored in Russian Academy of Sciences archive, the article examines proposals for solving the problem of balanced population distribution across the country's territory, taking into account the planned artificial irrigation in USSR eastern and southern regions during second and third five-year plans. These documents are being introduced for the first time. The scholar identified a correlation between increased electrification and population growth in arid regions, as well as between irrigation and hydroelectric power. Implementation of state irrigation program was complicated by the uneven distribution of natural resources and population, which created difficulties in aligning socio-demographic indicators in line with objectives of the planned economy. Certain aspects of USSR spatial, economic, and social development turned out to be interrelated. Scientifically substantiated observations about the inevitable length and complexity of harmonizing space and population under conditions of accelerated industrialization were ignored by the authority. Implementation of E. Z. Volkov's proposals was interrupted by the Great Patriotic War and partially actualized after its conclusion. Most of his unrealized ideas regarding the coordinated placement of social and economic systems and the establishment of territorial links between them have retained their conceptual and practical significance. These ideas have been refined in studies on spatial polarization in contemporary Russia. E. Z. Volkov's reflections demonstrated that Russia needs a systematic approach to solving the problem of leveling its spatial development. It is advisable to implement the economist’s recommendations into the periodically updated «Strategy for Spatial Development of the Russian Federation».
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