Identity and Socio-Cultural Reconfiguration of The Peri-Urban Space of Chișinău Municipality

Abstract

The peri-urban space of Chișinău municipality is undergoing a continuous process of transformation under the influence of urbanization, suburbanization and the functional expansion of the capital city. The intensification of population mobility, residential development and the diversification of economic activities determine significant changes in the socio-cultural and identity structure of peri-urban localities. In this context, the peri-urban becomes a space of interference between traditional rural values and contemporary urban models, generating new forms of territorial organization, social interaction and identity expression. The aim of the study is to analyze the processes of identity and socio-cultural reconfiguration of the peri-urban space of Chișinău municipality in the context of sustainable development. The research seeks to identify the main factors influencing the identity, social and cultural transformations of peri-urban localities. The role of commuting, population mobility, human contacts and socio-cultural infrastructure used jointly in transforming the peri-urban environment and consolidating a new territorial identity is highlighted. The influence of urban-rural interactions on lifestyle, social behavior and the perception of inhabited space is also analyzed. The research findings reveal that the peri-urban space of Chișinău municipality acquires the characteristics of a transitional territory located at the intersection between tradition and modernity, rurality and urbanity. The identity and socio-cultural reconfiguration of this space represents both a consequence of current socio-economic transformations and an important premise for sustainable development and peri-urban territorial competitiveness. UDC: 711.432:332.14(478-1); JEL: R11, R23, R58, Z13