The concept of patriotism is relevant both for urban socio-cultural design practice and for scientific research. The purpose of the given research is to describe the aspects, key for social sciences and humanities, of the interdisciplinary analysis of the 'urban patriotism' phenomenon in the framework of economics, sociology, cultural studies and political science.
The authors used theoretical methods (synthesis and analysis, comparative, historicism, etc.) and analyzed empirical data (public opinion polls, 'Urban Environment Quality Index' data, etc.).
Urban patriotism is considered as a kind of local patriotism, where the object of positive emotions (pride) and behavior (care, civic participation, solidarity, etc.) is the territory, the city in this case. The sociological optics of exploring urban patriotism implies emphasizing social differentiation of city dwellers in relation to their place of residence or to the place of the perspective moving. Urban patriotism as a feeling of affection, pride in one's city, a desire to serve it, is an important factor of increasing the human capital of a territory, the foundations of its competitiveness.
Through the example of Ekaterinburg, the institutional picture of the urban patriotism formation and strengthening is described, beginning with the 'I am a citizen of Ekaterinburg' strategic project, aiming at active civic position and sense of patriotism development among the city residents. From the historical and political positions, the city and patriotism have been linked in European culture since the emergence of this type of settlement. It was the city that originally was the point around which the concept of 'state' was formed.
The economic aspect of considering urban patriotism is the emphasis on the benefits and costs that residents' and visitors' loyalty can bring, characterizing the effects of love for the city. Patriotically minded people make decisions to purchase goods and services that are more beneficial for a given territory. It is important that management practices aimed at supporting local producers are not speculative but well positioned. However, there are also examples of 'successful speculation' on patriotic feelings (Mayor M. Bloomberg's New York administration actions to develop West Side of Manhattan). The culturological aspect of researching the phenomenon of urban patriotism implies analyzing the formation and perception of cultural products as related to the land itself, vassal (as in feudalism epoch) and, in contrast, horizontal connections, values.
The interdisciplinary approach to exploring urban patriotism is justified, of with significant aspects of the description by economists, culturologists, political scientists and sociologists highlighted in its framework.
