The Boundaries “Friend-or-Stranger” in Novosibirsk Urban Space: The Case of the “Khiloksky Market”

This article describes the boundaries of the “friend-or-stranger” territory of the “Khiloksky market” in Novosibirsk. The growth of migration and the "visible" presence of migrants from Central Asia in this city contribute to the development and formation of economic and trade networks. This situation leads to clashes between migrants and the “local” population, increasing tensions both within the market and in the surrounding area of the city. The purpose of the study is to identify the complex of problems centered around the “Khiloksky market”. The research hypothesis is as a result of the market's formation as a migrant infrastructure, it becomes a site for conflict production and the creation of informal migrant networks that regulate conflicts and social ties. The objective of the study was to enter the locality of the “Khiloksky market”, study the factors influencing the conflict potential of the space, identify the main participants, and answer the question of which strategies contribute to the development of this particular infrastructure. The crucial conclusion is that the conflict of relations related to the market is based on the promotion of an international agenda that hides economic competition and social problems, and the government's disregard of the "invisible" infrastructure and the desire to criminalize it reinforces existing problems. The authors declare no conflict of interests.

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