The "resource curse" and life strategies on the island of Iturup

The article explores the politics and practices of consumption in quasi-closed military border towns, both operating and disbanded, in the Kuril Islands. Located in remote territories of the same status as the Far North areas and isolated both formally (with an internal visa regime in place) and geographically (low transport accessibility), these towns from the very beginning found themselves heavily dependent on resources from the centre. The island's good old times remembered by respondents saw the situation when the resources were allocated in return for loyalty. The post-Soviet period, however, has witnessed the transformation of social contract, reduced resource allocation and adaptation of the local population to new patterns of the latter, as well as changes in local consumption practices and the development of new life strategies. A part of the adaptation process has been constituted by cooperation enhanced by digital tools, which the author suggests should be called the "messenger turn". To a greater or lesser degree, this turn is characteristic of the whole of the region and is particularly clearly seen from the cases under consideration in the article. In the studied cities of Iturup unique quasi-market relations are being built by the local population; and certain conflicts can be observed here between civilians, the military, and the locals over emerging consumption practices and resources.

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