Environmental awareness of urban and rural residents
The article presents the results of the sociological analysis of environmental awareness of the residents of a regional centre (the case of Kaliningrad) and a settlement (the case of Nivenskoye, the Kaliningrad region). The study is relevant for the federal authorities since environmental problems have become a frequent cause of protest actions in Russia. The relevance of the study for the regional authorities is predetermined by social conflicts related to the construction of a potassium-magnesium production facility in the village of Nivenskoye. The study revealed a number of characteristic features typical of the environmental consciousness of the two territorial communities. The analysis showed that villagers are more trustful of all sources of information related to environmental issues. They are more willing to spend money on environmental protection. Villagers are more inclined to blame business for environmental problems, while Kaliningraders tend to blame the state. The author identified common features of environmental consciousness of the urban and rural residents: distrust of the information on environmental risks coming from business and the unwillingness to sacrifice safe and clean environment for improved living standards. The author offers recommendations to the Kaliningrad region authorities and to large businesses on the prevention of social tension associated with the perception of environmental risks.