Author Description

"In the years since 1989, the societies of Russia and Eastern Europe have undergone a remarkable transformation from socialism to democracy and free market capitalism. This book considers the change in the spatial structure of post-Soviet urban spaces since the period of transition began. It argues that the era of transformation can be considered as largely complete, and that this has given way to a new stage of development as part of the global urban and economic system: post-transformation. It examines the contemporary trends in the urban development of Western and post-socialist countries, and explores the theories of the transformation and post-transformation of urban space. It goes on to investigate the dynamics and results of spatial transformation, and includes detailed analysis of the Russian city of St. Petersburg and the changing structure of its retail trade and services sector. Overall, this book is an important step forward in the study of the spatial dynamics of urban transformation in the former communist world."--Jacket.