The Kaliningrad region: a unique region and a typical centre

Abstract

The longstanding efforts of federal au-thorities aimed at the development of the Kalin-ingrad region did not meet the expectations. The region can be considered as depressed; it is characterised by the instability of the socioeconomic situation. The main reason for the reduced efficiency of state activity is the attempt to apply standard mechanisms of gov-ernmental regional development regulation that neglect the unique nature of this Russian territory: its enclave/exclave status, the settling history of the region, the dependence on external markets, etc. To solve the problems of the Kalin¬ingrad region, the state should partially revise its ideology, including the views on external connections of Russia’s con-stituents. Moreover, Russia should coordinate its activity in the Baltic Sea States taking into account the increased sensitiv¬ity of the Kaliningrad Region. [author's abstract]