Russian-Spanish Relations in the Scientific and Educational Sphere after February 2022

Abstract

This article examines the impact of the special military operation carried out by the Russian Federation on the territory of Ukraine on the interaction of Russia and Spain in the scientific and educational sphere. After February 24, 2022, the number of sanctions imposed against the Russian Federation by Western countries reached record levels. Against this background, after the start of a special military operation, Russian-Spanish relations radically changed the vector of development, the consequences of these changes manifested themselves both in the economic and political fields, as well as in the cultural, scientific and educational sphere. Almost immediately, Spanish government agencies called for an immediate freeze on any scientific and educational activities between Russia and Spain. Under this influence, most Spanish universities de jure announced the suspension of cooperation with Russian universities or organizations. This research is based on a number of scientific methods, including historical, institutional, systemic, as well as the method of comparative analysis. The authors consider the situation in the field of scientific and educational cooperation between Spain and Russia that has developed since February 2022 and they come to the conclusion that if the conflict between Russia and Ukraine is persistent and prolonged, it may lead to the final closure of joint educational programs, as well as to the termination of joint scientific research and the publication of articles by Spanish and Russian scientists. At this stage, as this analysis shows, individual cases of cooperation in the educational sphere initiated before the special military operation individually find ways to continue their implementation, Russian students continue to apply and enroll in universities in Spain. However, the tendency to curtail joint scientific and educational activities prevails.