hero projects Flashcards
what are hero projects
large-scale, state-led infrastructure or industrial projects framed as symbols of national strength, progress and legitimacy
what purpose did mega-projects serve beyond economic development
reinforce state power, extended control to peripheral regions, integrated diverse ethnic groups and were used for propaganda and military logistics
what to key concepts does josephson use to analyse hero projects
path dependency - once started, mega-projects often continue due to political, technological and economic inertia
what is a criticism of the focus on mega-projects
overemphasizes state driven narratives and neglects social conditions, bottom up look
how do hero projects contribute to continuity in political culture
foster a cycle of centralized state planning, reinforce authoritarian values and serve as a legitimacy tool
why are megaprojects still prominent today
tied to national identity, political symbolism and are used to maintain nostalgic links with the glorious soviet era
why were waterworks central to the soviet modernization projects
symbolized control over nature, enabled electrification and agriculture and aligned with stalins collectivization goals
what was the long term consequence of soviet water policies
severe environmental degradation and poor infrastructure maintenance
what is authoritarian high modernism
a belief in the states ability to reshape society through science, technology and rational planning, ignoring tradition and public input
what are the risks of high modernisation in authoritarian regimes
displacement of communities, environmental harm
what is the resource curse
resource rich countries suffer from underdevelopment, authoritarianism and social conflict due to dependence on extractive industries
how did extractivism affect soviet coal mining towns
led to overreliance on slave labour, poor conditions, mono-economies and unsustainable environmental damage
what challenge do nuclear projects pose for future generations
managing and communicating the danger of long lived nuclear waste across millennia
how does putin use soviet hero project imagery today
through media, photo ops, national holidays that link modern projects to soviet engineering glory
what role do mega-projects play in contemporary russian politics
used to justify expansionism, assert state strength and solidify public support
what is path dependency
once a process begins it is hard to reverse because of the costs, systems or expectations already built around it
what role did forced labour play in hero projects
gulag prisoners were used extensively to reduce costs and increase man power
how did hero projects serve as tools for nation building
physically connected distant regions, imposed central authority as created a shared narrative of collective achievement
how does putins government continue the soviet tradition of hero projects
by launching large scale initiatives that echo soviet feats
