Diversity of the Internet in Russia’s Regions: Towards an Alternative Research Agenda

The paper is devoted to the complex space-time analysis of the development of the Internet in the Russian Federation. The following quantitative and infrastructural aspects of regional disparities in the spread of the Internet are discussed: the regional distribution of the Internet audience, growth poles, disparities in the penetration level, etc. Changes in the geography of the Internet that took place over the first decade of the 21st century are revealed. Features of the Russia’s geographical position and the related significant role of wireless technologies and of the mobile Internet in particular are described. The network and organizational structure of the Russian Internet and its development prospects are covered. Qualitative aspects of regional disparities in the spread of the Internet in Russia are analyzed separately (the activity and effectiveness of the use of the Internet by the population). The dynamics and regional disparities in the development of the Internet and e-commerce market in Russia are examined. Conclusions about significant decentralization in the regional distribution of Internet users in Russia, which occurred in the first decade of the 21st century, are made. The rapid proliferation of mobile communication technologies and mobile Internet penetration, in terms of which Russia is among the world leaders, plays a significant role in smoothing of geographical contrasts. However, a sufficiently rapid reduction in quantitative imbalances inside the country is accompanied by the preservation of significant qualitative gaps in the sphere of creation of Internet information resources and the Internet market, where there is still a monopoly of metropolitan areas.

The paper is devoted to a complex spatiotemporal analysis of the development of the Internet in the Russian Federation. The following quantitative and infrastructural aspects of regional disparities in the spread of the Internet are discussed: the regional distribution of the Internet audience, growth poles, disparities in the penetration level, etc. Changes in the geography of the Internet that took place over the first decade of the 21st century are revealed. Features of Russia’s geographical position and the related significant role of wireless technologies and the mobile Internet in particular are described. The network and organizational structure of the Russian Internet and its development prospects are covered. Qualitative aspects of regional disparities in the spread of the Internet in Russia are analyzed separately (the activity and effectiveness of the population’s use of the Internet). The dynamics and regional disparities in the development of the Internet and e-commerce market in Russia are examined. Conclusions are made about the significant decentralization in the regional distribution of Internet users in Russia in the first decade of the 21st century. The rapid proliferation of mobile communication technologies and mobile Internet penetration, in which Russia is among the world leaders, plays a significant role in smoothing geographical contrasts. However, a sufficiently rapid reduction in quantitative imbalances inside the country is accompanied by retention of significant qualitative gaps in the creation of Internet information resources and the Internet market, where metropolitan areas still have a monopoly.

RusNet on the Offensive

This study contributes to the debate on the impact of international shocks on the integration of national systems of cities into global economic networks. We examine how the crisis in Ukraine and the following economic sanctions of 2014 imposed on Russia affected the positions of Russian cities in global economic networks. To do so, we used worldwide data on the corporate networks of the largest multinational firms and their subsidiaries from 2010 to 2019 to create intercity linkages at both the global and national levels to show how Russian cities’ positions evolved during the period. The study shows that although the Russian cities’ position in the global network shrank (with a general decrease in Russian cities’ linkages), their internationalization increased despite the economic sanctions. The decrease in connectedness mostly concerned the intranational firm linkages between Russian cities, which could explain the increasing interregional inequalities in Russia observed by numerous scholars. In addition, contrary to the main arguments of the global cities approach, among the cities that were most resistant to crises were not only the largest and most diversified cities, as we would expect during such times of uncertainty, but also some highly specialized small towns.

Let’s Control Copies instead of Originals! New Way of Controlling National Internet

Shared cultural norms for justice in water institutions: Results from Fiji, Ecuador, Paraguay, New Zealand, and the U.S.

This article is dedicated to studying the consumption of Internet in Russia. The author analyzes the dynamics of consumption of global network by regions of the Russian Federation. Special attention is paid to the use of Internet by population of the Republic of Bashkortostan. Comparative analysis is conducted to the situation in Bashkortostan overall, as well as urban and rural areas in particular. Attention is also focused on the correlation between two indicators: “Use of the Internet” and “Assessment by households of their financial situation”. The conclusions are structured on the analysis of relevant Russian and foreign publications covering the topic of the use of Internet, as well as statistical data for the period from 2010 to 2018 (based on the materials of the Russian Federal State Statistics Service and Bashkortostan Regional Statistics Service). The conducted research allowed determining the connection between the use of Internet and assessment by the households of their financial wellbeing. The acquired data can be used in forecasting of economic situation in the region, as well as carry applied relevance for commercial organizations, for the more efficient interaction with the consumers and improvement of goods and services.

A geographer specializing in the emerging information-technology sector of the Russian economy presents an exploratory overview of the "widening" and "deepening" of Internet use in Russia during the 1990s and early years of the 21st century. Separate sections of the paper examine the main stages of Internet development in the country to date, explore regional differences in Internet access and use, and outline progress in the installation of surface telecommunications (including fiber optic) trunklines and intra-city networks. Journal of Economic Literature, Classification Numbers: L86, L96, O32. 3 tables, 17 references.

This study explores how adolescents in Ambon construct self-identity through the internalization of Korean popular culture (K-Pop) while maintaining ties to their local social context. Employing a qualitative approach—including participant observation, in-depth interviews, and digital ethnography—this research investigates how global aspirations, manifested through K-Pop fandom, changes in appearance, and participation in fan communities, are transformed into meaningful emotional and social expressions in everyday life. The findings reveal that youth identity performance is not passive imitation but a conscious negotiation of global cultural values with local religious, communal, and social norms. The study’s novelty lies in its geographic focus on Eastern Indonesia—an underrepresented site in popular culture studies—and its integration of affective sociology and youth cultural agency to frame glocalization as both an emotional and performative process. This research offers a significant contribution to cultural and emotional sociology by illuminating the active role of youth in reshaping identity through global media flows, while also providing conceptual grounding for more inclusive educational and cultural policy that reflects the complex dynamics of youth expression in a globalized era.

The article examines the peculiarities and problems of fragmentation of the global network "Internet" by the states dominated by authoritarian regimes. An attempt was made to generalize the interpretation of the definition of the "Balkanization of the Internet", the principles of the Chinese development of the "Golden Shield" as a state system of censorship in cyberspace were studied, the peculiarities of the implementation of the "National Information Network" in Iran and the sovereign Internet in Russia were analyzed, and the North Korean experience of the "Kwangmyong" project was considered. Based on the results of the analysis of legal acts, open data sources and publications in the media, it was found that most often governments justify such decisions by protecting national security. At the same time, in practice, the Balkanization of the Internet levels out the already limited freedom of speech in countries where other sources of information are somehow under state control, and leads to greater information, cultural, scientific, economic autarky of societies.


 
 
 This article focuses on language transfer as a fundamental factor in the construction of postsocialist network technosociality. By looking at the early days of the Internet in Russia and the current landscape of the Russian-language cyberspace, it demonstrates that excessive translation activity becomes an essential tool of postsocialist integration with global network economies and cultures. At the center of this activity is voice-over, a form of “half dubbing” and a dominant screen translation practice on the Runet. While this article explores the histories and defining features of performance and labor of this practice, it argues that the voice-over translation is a mode of connectivity that exposes the centrality of asynchrony and distortion to postsocialist networking as well as to the network as such.
 
 

The Neural Circuitry of a Broken Promise

Some types of intravaginal practices (IVP) may increase the risk for HIV acquisition. This is particularly worrisome for populations with dual high prevalence of HIV and IVP. Women involved in transactional sex are at increased risk for HIV infection in sub-Saharan Africa. Social, cultural and economic influences are strong drivers of IVP in this population. To explore this, we carried out a qualitative research study to investigate the drivers and motivations for using IVP within a large observational study of women at high risk of HIV in Tanzania and Uganda from September 2008 to September 2009. Of the 201 women selected, 176 women took part in a semi-structured in-depth interview. Additionally, in Tanzania, eight focus group discussions among study participants and community members were carried out to obtain information on community norms and expectations. IVP were motivated by overlapping concerns with hygiene, morality, sexual pleasure, fertility, relationship security, and economic security. These motives were driven by the need to meet cultural and social expectations of womanhood, and at the same time attend to personal well-being. Among women involved in transactional sex in East Africa, interventions aimed at modifying or eliminating IVP should attend to local cultural and social norms as well as the individual as an agent of change.

Objective: The objective of this study is to identify and present a self-discrepancy model based on individual differences and to analyze its impact on the behavior of luxury goods consumers in Qazvin, Iran. Methodology: This study employed a mixed-methods approach, comprising both qualitative and quantitative research. Initially, a comprehensive literature review was conducted to define key variables and their interrelationships. This was followed by in-depth interviews with experts in consumer behavior and psychology to refine the conceptual model and develop the research questionnaire. The quantitative phase involved surveying luxury goods consumers in Qazvin using the developed questionnaire. Data were analyzed using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) with the aid of SMART-PLS 3 software to test the proposed hypotheses. Findings: The findings indicate that self-discrepancy significantly influences luxury consumption behaviors, with consumers using luxury goods to bridge the gap between their actual and ideal selves. Individual differences such as personality traits, demographic factors, and cultural background were found to significantly impact luxury consumption. Digital media and influencers were identified as crucial factors shaping consumer attitudes and purchase intentions. Additionally, religiosity and cultural norms were found to either constrain or motivate luxury consumption. Socio-economic factors like income and education levels were also significant determinants, with higher income and education correlating with increased luxury consumption. Conclusion: The study highlights the complex interplay between self-discrepancy, individual differences, and socio-cultural factors in driving luxury consumption behaviors. It provides a comprehensive model that integrates these elements, offering valuable insights for luxury brand marketers to develop targeted and effective strategies. The findings suggest that marketers should emphasize the social and self-enhancement benefits of luxury goods, leverage digital media and influencers, and tailor their messages to resonate with local cultural values and norms. Future research should expand the scope to include more diverse samples and explore specific luxury categories in greater detail.

This contribution documents the author’s lived experiences in his fieldwork for his PhD research in the field of English as a second/foreign language in a familiar social setting in Bangladesh. The account suggests that insider researchers can helpfully draw on their tacit knowledge of local social and cultural norms and values to understand their research participants and their experiences, and behave with them in socially and culturally appropriate ways. However, it also shows that the insider perspective is more complex and problematic than is commonly assumed. To what extent local researchers are true insiders is questionable, particularly if they have social status differences with their research participants and, more crucially, if they are trained in Western academia and Western ethical norms. The major focus here is on the relevance of the ethical codes emphasized by the ethics committee of an Australian university to fieldwork in rural Bangladesh. The discussion that follows highlights personal ethical dilemmas, which resulted from an irreconcilable gap between the expectations of research ethics in Western academia and cultural realities and behavioural norms in the developing society. Implications of these ethical issues for fieldwork in developing countries as well as for institutional review boards are suggested.