When first conceived in 1916, protected areas in Russia were considered as sancta of nature. In post-Soviet times, however, the fortunes of protected areas have undergone swift change: from a period of liberalisation and a conservation bonanza in the 1990s to increasing exploitation in the 2000s...

Problem, research strategy, and findings: Over the past three decades, mega-events have become complex and transformative undertakings with costs often exceeding USD 10 billion. But the way in which these events are currently planned and governed produces significant adverse effects for cities,...