New poll reveals lack of community in Moscow

(Moscow News – themoscownews.com – Natalia Antonova – April 8, 2013)

The Graduate School of Urban Studies and Planning at the Higher School of Economics here in Moscow has come out with a report that says that most Muscovites want little to do with their neighbors.

A recent poll conducted by the graduate school revealed that less than a third of Muscovites report having “regular contact” with their neighbors. Fifty-two percent say the most they say to their neighbors is a “hello” should they run into them.

It doesn’t end there. According to the poll, only twenty percent of Muscovites make regular use of the typical Moscow “dvor” – a courtyard that typically combines benches and exercise equipment with a playground. Most residents believe that the dvors are reserved for angry pensioners, alcoholics, and criminals.

As researcher Pyotr Ivanov pointed out in a lecture at the ZIL cultural center, Muscovites’ fears of their surroundings can even be altogether irrational. “One respondent told us that half of the apartments in his building are occupied by skinheads who go around paintings swastikas everywhere,” Ivanov said. “We looked everywhere and couldn’t find a single swastika. But this did not convince [him].”

This lack of community is understandable. It stems both from Soviet-era paranoia, 1990s-era chaos, and the rapid urbanization of today. Harsher laws on registration have also made people more reluctant to communicate, especially since residents who are designated as “heads” of their individual stairwell are apparently encouraged to snitch on any “undesirables” to the authorities.

Yet considering all of the initiatives aimed at making Moscow into a more hospitable city, it seems obvious that the current status quo must be challenged.

No government program is going to inspire people to suddenly develop a sense of community. Vast improvements to Moscow playgrounds and benches are, of course, important – as they create a better atmosphere.

But being a good neighbor in any part of the world ultimately comes down to personal choice. You must suddenly figure out a way to relate to people, even the angry pensioners you detest. You must learn to pick up your own trash and even – gasp – pick up after your dog. And you must somehow do it all without becoming an annoying busybody who confuses invasion of privacy with being friendly.

It’s a tall order. But as the weather warms up again in Moscow, it may be worth a try.