Ryazantsev I.P., Podlesnaya M.A., Pisarevsky V.G., Ryazantsev V. I. Digitalization in a small town: religiosity as an influence factor? Bulletin of the South-Russian State Technical University (NPI) Series Socio-Economic Sciences, 14(4), 73-92. https: ...

Abstract

The purpose of the research. Currently Russia is among the top ten countries in terms of digitalization and digital economy development. The Government of Russian Federation has developed a special program «Digital economy of the Russian Federation», within the priority of digital technologies (wireless high-speed communication, big data, artificial intelligence, Internet of things, virtual and augmented reality) are identified until 2030, as well as key tasks for implementing these technologies (development of Internet infrastructure in the regions of the Russian Federation, creation of a regulatory environment for the digital economy, creating an educational environment for training digital economy personnel, public-private partnership in the development of digital platforms). The implementation of this Government program is currently actively carried out in both federal and regional centers, both in large and small cities, both in agglomerations and in peripheral territories. The purpose of the research — to consider the influence of such a factor as Orthodox religiosity on the process of digitalization. The methodological framework of the research. The research area was chosen as the Kirillovsky district of the Vologda region, which is distinguished by the presence of ancient monuments of Orthodox culture and architecture, a special historical and cultural context associated with the territories of the so-called «Russian North». In addition, this region is interesting because it is a small city and a peripheral territory, equally remote from such large agglomeration centers as Vologda and Cherepovets. The development of the social process of digitalization here may be due to both Orthodox religiosity and the specifics of a small city. In 2019, the second measurement of socio-economic, demographic, and religious conditions of the population of Kirillov district, Vologda region (the first measurement was made in 2009) was carried out. Questions were asked about the attitude of the population to digitalization, the quality of technical equipment in the region in terms of mobile and Internet communication, user capabilities of the population, etc. The results of the study. As a result, it was found that there is no connection between the Orthodox religiosity of the population and their attitude to the process of digitalization, their readiness to be included in it. It was found that with 40 % of those who are not included in the digitalization process in the region, the vast majority (76 %) expressed their positive attitude to the changes taking place. The perspective of the research. This is a continuation of the monitoring begun, measuring the dynamics of digitalization in a small city and changes taking place in the user environment and in assessing the digitalization processes in the region by the population.