Axiosphere of sister cities: Is it possible to transmit cultural memory?

Abstract

The article is devoted to understanding the institution of sister cities in the context of the developing international crisis, when urban diplomacy, successful practices of interstate civil cooperation, perceived for decades as unshakable and value-oriented, were subjected to “suspension” or “cancellation”. On the other hand, the territorial changes in 2022, the entry of new territories into Russia and the establishment of twinning relations between Russian cities and the cities of Donbass give the institution of sister cities a new meaning and important political and cultural significance. The formation and development of the axiosphere of twin cities is seen as an important factor in the development of interregional cooperation and the “binding” of Russian territories. The interdisciplinary of this study is expressed in addressing not only issues of public policy, social philosophy, cultural studies, ethics, economics, but also in the desire to take into account the specifics of the developing digital society, while the authors consider regional governance issues from the position of an axiological approach. The working with cultural memory today can act as a resource for building an effective cultural policy in the region, but the construction of new meanings and relationships, images and priorities for future development is no less significant. The authors note the importance of civil initiatives and movements, social media, whose activities are aimed at maintaining the social sphere and creating a digital environment of trust, at intensifying urban, civil cooperation in the network as a counterbalance to the aggressive anti-Russian, Russophobic network practices used today.