Theses in Slavonic Studies Approved for Higher Degrees by Universities in the British Isles, 1997-2001

Abstract

SEER,Vol. 82, A'. i,January 2004 Theses in Slavonic Studies Approved for Higher Degrees by Universities in the British Isles, 1997-2001 GREGORY WALKER THE first British higher degree in Slavonic studies was awarded in I907. A seriesof sevenbibliographies,publishedin Oxford Slavonic Papers (OSP)between I967 and I998, recorded theses in this field approved for higherdegreesup to I996, asfollows: 'Theses in Slavonic studies approved for higher degrees by British universities, ... ...I 907-I966', byJ. S. G. Simmons, OSP, xiii (I967), pp. 139-59. ...I1967-I97I', byJ. S. G. Simmons, OSP, n.s. vi (I973), pp. 133-47. ...1972-I976', byJ. S. G. Simmons, OSP, n.s. x (i977), pp. 120-38. ...I 977-I98I', byJ. S. G. Simmons, OSP, n.s. xv (I982), pp. 140-67. ...I 98I-I986', by GregoryWalker,OSP, n.s. xx (i 987), pp.I 40o-6I. ...I1986-I99I', by GregoryWalker,OSP, n.s. xxvii(I 994), pp. 144- 73. ... 1992-I996', by GregoryWalker,OSP, n.s. xxi (1 998), pp. 104-52. Oxford Slavonic Papershas now ceased publication, but thanks to the Editorial Board of the SlavonicandEast European Reviewit has been possible to continue this record with the present bibliography.Its 668 entriescover the period from I997 to 2001, as well as including 76 late entriesfor earlieryears(only i i per cent, comparedwith 22 per cent in the previous list, giving a more accurate picture of recent research activity). The numbering is consecutive from the last entry (2I46) in the 1992-96 listing. The change in title acknowledges that relevant theses from Irish institutions are included here, as they have in fact been in previous lists. With one exception, this bibliography has the same scope and arrangement as its predecessors. It records theses dealing wholly or in significant part with any subject in the broad field of Slavonic and East European studies. Geographically it covers the whole area of the former USSR and the previously Communist states of Eastern Europe except the GDR. Arrangement under each subject heading is chronological by the year of award (sometimes the year of submission) and alphabetically by author within each year. Unlike previous listings, this one does not include MA dissertations. It is unfortunate that masters' GREGORY WALKER 133 degrees in British universities differ so widely and confusingly in the relationship between their nomenclature and their research content; but this exclusion was decided on with the approval of the SEER EditorialBoard -as the least inconsistentmeans of limitingthe size of what is stillthe longest of these bibliographiesto date. The increase in the number of entries, from 6I4 to 669 or by 9 per cent, understates an unprecedented growth in recorded doctoral research. The 1992-96 list contained 240 doctoral theses from that five-yearperiod. Late entries from that period in the present list have increased the number of 1992-96 doctoral theses recorded to an impressive300, but thisis eclipsedin itsturnby the 475 doctoraltheses listed below for 1997-200I. The proportion of masters' theses has fallenfromjust over 50 per cent in the 1992-96 listingto 20 per cent partly, of course, due to the exclusion of MAs, but also because numbersin thepreviouslistwere inflatedby Io6 late entriesof masters' thesesfromthe yearsbefore 1992. Space does not allowmore than a few comments on the composition andproportionsof the bibliography.The threeheadingsof Economics, InternationalRelations and Politicstogetheraccount for 50 per cent of allentries,but thisis a slightretreatfromthe 55 per cent in theprevious list. Language and Literaturehave between them registereda modest recovery from 69 entries (i I per cent) to 85 (I 3 per cent). Perhapsthe most significant change in subject coverage from the previous quinquennium is under the heading Society, where entrieshave more than doubled from 29 to 63. The number of institutions contributing entries has shown the largest-ever quinquennial increase, from 58 to 79. Ranked by the number of theses listed, Oxford is in firstplace with 94 (including 66 doctorates from 1997-2001), followed by Cambridge with 70 (49 doctorates),then SSEES with 42 (35 doctorates),Glasgow with 40 (22 doctorates) and Birmingham with 39 (but 28 doctorates). After that come LSE (24, with 2I doctorates),Bradford(i 8, I2 doctorates),Leeds and Sheffield(i6 each, with I5 and 14 doctorates),Manchester (I4, 9 doctorates...