Nadir Kinossian

Nadir Kinossian is a Researcher at the Leibniz Institute for Regional Geography (IfL) in Leipzig, Germany, where he has been employed since March 2015. He serves as Project Manager in the Department of Regional Geography of Europe, focusing on Multiple Geographies of Regional and Local Development. His academic career spans institutions across Europe and Russia, with significant contributions to post-socialist urban studies and Arctic geography.

Education:

• PhD in Urban Planning from Cardiff University (2010), dissertation: "Governing a regional capital in Russia. The pursuit of competitiveness and identity: A case study of Kazan"
• MA in Political Science from University of Missouri, St. Louis (2005)
• MA in Urban Planning from Cardiff University (2002)
• Diploma in Architecture from Kazan State Academy of Architecture and Civil Engineering, Russia (1996)

Kinossian's research centers on spatial planning, urban governance, cultural landscapes, and theoretical aspects of spatial polarization and peripherization, with particular expertise in post-socialist urban development and Arctic geography. His work critically examines urban transformations in Russia and comparative urbanism across the Global East, often focusing on the interplay between state power, urban identity, and spatial restructuring. He has made significant contributions to understanding how post-socialist cities navigate global influences while maintaining local identities.

His publication record shows consistent output in top geography journals, with recent work focusing on post-socialist urban theory, Londongrad's financial geography, Arctic cultural landscapes, and the concept of 'left behind places.' Kinossian's research demonstrates a clear trajectory from studying specific post-socialist urban contexts toward broader theoretical contributions in comparative urbanism, with increasing attention to global connections and geopolitical dimensions.

Academic Service:

• Co-editor of Raumforschung und Raumordnung | Spatial Research and Planning
• Co-editor of Eurasian Geography and Economics
• Editorial Board member for Urban Development Issues
• Committee member for Regional Studies Association Publications Committee
• Board member of Regional Studies Association Russia Division
• Editorial committee member for Geography Compass

Kinossian has led and contributed to significant research projects including "Beyond 'Left Behind Places'," "Agents of Change in Old-Industrial Regions of Europe (ACORE)," and "Cities 'after decline': Urban Revival in the USA and Russia." His work bridges academic research with policy relevance, particularly in regional development and urban governance contexts. At the IfL, he contributes to the research workshop on Multiple Geographies of Regional and Local Development and participates in the EEGA Science Campus initiative.