Image Of Russia Research Articles

“Incommensurable Airspace”: Image of Russia in Travelogue of Maxim Nezvorov

This article analyzes the image of Russia in Maxim Nezvorov’s travelogue “Journey to Kazan, Vyatka, and Orenburg in 1800.” Based on theoretical frameworks, we identify three aspects of analysis: genre, spatiality, and subjectivity. The study employs structuraldescriptive and cultural-historical methods, alongside the foundational principles of N. L. Leiderman’s genre theory, V. L. Kagansky’s concept of cultural landscape, and B. O. Korman’s ideas on the subject of artistic text. Our findings indicate that the choice of a quasi-documentary epistolary form allowed the author to establish a commitment to authenticity, combined with a characteristically sentimental intention of the “sensitive traveler.” It is demonstrated that Nezvorov delineates a system-forming dichotomy of “centerperiphery,” within which the cultural landscape is (re)constructed. We conclude that the author evaluates a key component of this landscape — urban planning and architecture — while the landscape itself serves a supportive role. Nezvorov pays particular attention to the extraordinarily diverse ethnic composition of the empire’s population. Although he rarely grants his “interlocutors” a voice, their comments and judgments enable a partial reconstruction of the worldview of a person in the early 19th century, one of the key elements of which is the image of Russia.

“OUT THERE, BEYOND…”: THE IMAGE OF THE FUTURE AND THE POETIC IDEAL IN THE WORKS OF S. A. YESENIN IN THE 1910S

The article is devoted to the analysis of the artistic content and the evolution of the poetic ideal in the works of S. A. Yesenin of the 1910s: the subject of the study is both the poet’s lyrical works and his narrative and philosophical prose (the article “Native Word”), as well as biblical poems. The peculiarity of the literary and philosophical toponym “Rus” in Yesenin’s works as an ethical ideal and a symbol of a special national historical path, which is part of “God’s Providence,” is revealed. The polemical unity of toponym “Rus” with the idyllic image of the indefinitely beautiful “there,” which Yesenin drew from the literature of romanticism, along with the mythologeme of the poet’s fateful path, is demonstrated. A conclusion is made about the influence of Symbolist aesthetics on Yesenin’s understanding of art as a visionary experience that allows him to comprehend supersensual reality. By means of comparative analysis of A. A. Blok’s articles “Gogol’s Child” and Yesenin’s “Native Word,” the hypothesis that N. V. Gogol’s image of Russia was perceived by Yesenin in symbolist transcription is substantiated. The poem “Inonia” is considered as a transformation of Russia’s poetic ideal in the context of Yesenin’s religious and philosophical aspirations.

Neighbours of the empire: Images of Russia in Lithuanian and Polish textbooks

In the paper, we analyze the image of the Soviet Union and Russia presented by the Lithuanian and Polish states to the youngest generation. Our empirical data comes from textbooks for social sciences and recent history, beginning from the gaining independence of both countries after the First World War until the aggression on Ukraine in 2014. We focused on the ways of presenting to the pupils the politics, society, and culture of the Soviet and Russian states. We show how textbooks present the Russian state as irrational and dangerous and how the longue durée of the imperial thinking is seen as the leitmotiv of the narratives on Russian history.

Representation of Russia in Autobiographical Prose about Childhood by A.N. Tolstoy and I.S. Shmelev

This study examines the uniqueness of representing the image of Russia as an integral part of the artistic worldview in the autobiographical prose about childhood by first-wave Russian emigrant writers. The research is based on A.N. Tolstoy’s novella “Nikita’s Childhood” and I.S. Shmelev’s novel “The Lord’s Summer.” Comparative-historical, historical-literary methods, as well as the principle of comprehensive analysis of the ideological and artistic content of the texts, are employed. It is established that the image of Russia encompasses representations of the Russian people, nature, history, and generations. Time takes on mythological features, with historical and epic time shaping the narrative movement. The spatial dynamics are constructed as a contrast between city and village, where nature is animated and spiritualized. The concept of home emerges as a significant spatial parameter. In the novel “The Lord’s Summer,” it is intricately linked with the image of the church and sacralized. The central spiritual component of the world is embodied in the living image of Christ. The image of Russia is intertwined with themes of loss, with Moscow symbolized as the heart of the Motherland — Holy Rus’. Childhood and Russia are idealized, imbued with idyllic characteristics, while the image of a bygone era carries a nostalgic hue.

Образ будущего России с позиций гражданской идентификации населения приграничных регионов

Ideas about the future of Russia are an important category of modern social knowledge as they tend to correlate with civic identity. This sociological study was conducted in 2021 in four border regions, i.e., Altai Territory, Kaliningrad Region, Voronezh Region, and Khabarovsk Territory. The online survey (n = 1736) involved various social networks and other Internet resources. The survey covered such aspects as attitudes to Russia’s future and foreign policy, characteristics of modern Russia and the Russia of the future, changes in its image, development scenarios, etc. The ideas about the image of Russia’s future correlated with civic identity. The frontier residents saw Russia as a legal, just, democratic, and safe state that supports its citizens in difficult situations. Less than half of the participants look into the future of the country with optimism and hope, while every third frontier resident mentioned feeling pessimism, fear, or anxiety. Senior citizens of the Kaliningrad Region were especially optimistic. However, a third of young people under 30 demonstrated pessimism regarding the future of this country. Respondents with a low civic identity had a negative view of Russia in 50 years. They mentioned depopulation and mass emigration to developed countries, as a result of which Russia becomes a resource appendage that survives by sheer dictatorship of power. Respondents with a strong sense of civic community hoped for the better: the state will gain power on the world stage, strengthen its internal positions by an improved social policy, and return to time-tested traditions and moral values.

"Russian-Ukrainian conflict" through the prism of users of the Chinese social network "Weibo"

The subject of this article is the views of Chinese netizens on the "Russian-Ukrainian conflict". The object of the study is posts about this topic on the Chinese social network "Weibo". The authors analyze the importance, functions of the Weibo in the production of public opinion and its main opinion leaders. Then the article examines the number of posts in month (15.02-15.03) compared to other international events and makes a content analysis of posts to find out the main topics and the attitude of users on the social network "Weibo" to the "Russian-Ukrainian conflict". At the end of the article, authors learn the relationship of the research results with stereotypes about the image of Russia in China. The results of the study show that Chinese Weibo users began to care about the event from the beginning of a special military operation, but interest faded with the first round of negotiations between Russia and Ukraine. Chinese Weibo users pay attention to the role of the United States in the conflict and Western sanctions against Russia. They mainly reflect support for the Russian economy and opposition to Western sanctions, which also affects the Chinese government's statement on this event. The article considers that such views are closely connected with stereotypes about the image of Russia in China. The results of the study show that in future international events, the peoples of Russia and China have more opportunities to reach agreement.

Bringing multidisciplinary perspectives of country image: factors influencing the perceptions of Chinese youth toward the images of Russia and Ukraine

Bringing multidisciplinary perspectives of country image: factors influencing the perceptions of Chinese youth toward the images of Russia and Ukraine

РАЗВИТИЕ НАУЧНОЙ ДИПЛОМАТИИ РОССИИ В ПАКИСТАНЕ: МНЕНИЯ ПАКИСТАНСКИХ ЭКСПЕРТОВ

The article is based on the materials of the research project “The role of think tanks and expert communities in the development of science diplomacy in relations with the countries of the ‘global South’ in terms of shaping Russia’s role in the world and the image of Russia’s future”, implemented in October–November 2023. The research consisted of three stages – identification of key think tanks in Pakistan, written/oral survey via e-mail and online interviews. The survey considered the expert opinions of employees of think tanks and higher education institutions in Pakistan regarding Russia-Pakistan science diplomacy. The survey became a basis for identifying the main trends characterizing the development of Russian-Pakistani relations in the field of science diplomacy and making recommendations on how to further develop cooperation between the scientific community of Russia and Pakistan. It should be emphasized that all Pakistani experts who took part in the survey were unanimous in their assessment of Russian diplomacy in Pakistan: in their opinion, it is still underdeveloped and should be intensified, given the great potential of Russian-Pakistani relations, including in the scientific sphere

Семеновы-Знаменские в Харбине. Материалы к биографии

Continuity of generations is a very serious issue for Harbin residents. Harbin residents have always tried to preserve the memory of their ancestors. Preserving the history of Russian emigration has a high relevance of the problem. The history of many Russian families is connected with Harbin, where there was the largest Russian diaspora. Nowadays this city is the administrative center of the Chinese province of Heilongjiang. We should not forget about the people who built the Chinese Eastern Railway, as well as about the Russian emigrants who lived in Harbin, but kept the image of Russia in their hearts and contributed enough to Russian culture and science. The purpose of this paper is to study the Russian emigrants life in Harbin and to restore contact with their descendants. The article uses historical and system analysis and bibliographic research method. The paper tells about the amazing life of Nikolai Nikolaevich Znamensky: his childhood in Harbin, his relatives, his move to the USSR, his admiration of nowadays China, and also focuses on the message of Nikolai Nikolaevich Znamensky to modern Harbin residents.

The image of Russia’s aggression against Ukraine on the front pages of “Rzeczpospolita” and “Gazeta Wyborcza” – an analysis of the framing of war photographs

This article aims to illustrate the initial weeks of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, as well as the preceding period, through press photography displayed on the front pages of two influential Polish daily newspapers, “Gazeta Wyborcza” and “Rzeczpospolita”, from February 1 to March 31, 2022. Research method: The study utilizes visual framing theory, a less commonly applied approach in visual research compared to classical framing analysis and not as extensively discussed in media studies. Results: The investigation reveals that “Gazeta Wyborcza” and “Rzeczpospolita” did not significantly differ in their daily visual representation of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Both newspapers predominantly featured photographs highlighting the conflict frame. Frames focusing on political leadership and military aspects were less prominent. High saturation of photography with the frame of human interest was revealed. Originality/Cognitive value: This article contributes to the understanding of how Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is depicted in the non-verbal content of leading Polish dailies.

The Specifics of the Perception of Russian Culture in Contemporary Foreign LiteratureCULTURE IN CONTEMPORARY FOREIGN LITERATURE

The present article delves into the nuances of how Russian culture is portrayed in contemporary foreign literature. The primary goal of this research is to discern the distinctive features of the representation of Russian culture in three novels: Pawel Huelle's "Castorp" (2004), Hans Pleschinski's "Königsallee" (2013), and William Boyd's "Restless" (2006). The core focus of this study is intertwined with the enduring fascination of literary scholars with the concept of imagology and the scrutiny of how the "Other" or the "Foreign" is depicted within national literary contexts. The analysis of these Polish and German novels reveals that the image of Russia is largely influenced by the prominent German writer Thomas Mann, who serves as a bridge to understanding Russian culture. In William Boyd's case, Russian culture is closely associated with the works of A.P. Chekhov, whose influence significantly shapes the poetics of the British author's novels. The conducted analysis demonstrates that the portrayal of Russia in these novels relies on certain literary clichés and stereotypes that are ingrained in Western public consciousness. However, it is noteworthy that among contemporary writers who incorporate Russia into their works, Huelle, Pleschinski, and Boyd tend to adopt a more balanced perspective, refraining from aligning themselves with the more extreme views of its critics.

Языковые средства стереотипизации образов России и русских в текстах немецких СМИ

The paper studies the language representation of stereotypes using the example of German mass media texts dealing with the Russia-Ukraine conflict. The aim of the research is to reveal the peculiarities of the process of language stereotyping concerning the images of Russia and Russians. The theoretical and methodological basis of the present work is founded on the theory of stereotypes as cognitive units. The scientific novelty of the study lies in analyzing the specified stereotypes at the moment of their transformation using the methodology of stereotype modelling and in identifying their most current features including those that have not yet been described. The research findings allowed us to single out a number of stereotypes about Russia and Russians transmitted in the German media texts of today and to describe linguistic means that represent the features inherent in the stereotypes. The evaluating content of the stereotypes under consideration proved to be negative. It was confirmed that a stereotype is an effective tool for forming and promoting certain convictions among the target audience.

<i>Yasōdokugo</i> 野叟獨語 [<i>A Monologue of an Elderly Rural Man</i>] by Sugita Genpaku as a Source on Early Russian-Japanese Relations

This study introduces and examines the work of Sugita Genpaku (20.10.1733–01.06.1817) — Yasōdokugo 野叟獨語 [A monologue of an elderly rural man] —a valuable historical document that describes the reaction of the Japanese government to the expedition of Khvostov and Davidov to Sakhalin in 1806–1807. It was written at the beginning of the 19thc., the period which is considered a turning point in the early Russian-Japanese relations, when Russia began to be perceived as a major dangerous enemy. This unique document, which is hardly ever mentioned in research, stands out in the long list of Japanese archival documents of the 19thc. as one of the very few that depict Russia as a possible trade partner and not an enemy. It was originally written by Sugita Genpaku in 1807 and was published for the first time in 1934 as a part of the multi-volume book called Dainippon shisō zenshū 大日本思想全集 [Complete collection of intellectual history works of Great Japan]. Nevertheless, it has been ignored by most scholars throughout the world, including those in Russia and Japan. This study introduces the most interesting parts of the work, which describe the response of the Japanese government to the actions of two Russian officers, lieutenant Khvostov (1776–1809) and midshipman Davidov (1784?–1809), in Sakhalin and the Kuril Islands in 1806 and 1807. This article answers the following questions: what was the image of Russia in Japan? What impact did the expedition to Sakhalin have on Japanese government and society? What was the best way to address the challenges Japan was facing and could trade with Russia help to solve them?

Inwazja Rosji na Ukrainę w polskich dziennikach opinii Rzeczpospolita i Gazeta Wyborcza

Russia’s Invasion of Ukraine in the Polish Opinion Dailies Rzeczpospolita and Gazeta Wyborcza The aim of the article was to reconstruct the image of the initial stage of the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine, and the time immediately preceding it, in the Polish opinion dailies Gazeta Wyborcza and Rzeczpospolita. It was verified which of the interpretive frame, as defined by Holli Semetko and Patti Valkenburg, was the dominant one, which tópoi (natural vs. cultural) dominated in the research sample and how the number and exposure of press texts were changing, alongside the intensity of press coverage regarding the Russia’s war in Ukraine. The content analysis method, the framing analysis concept, the priming concept and the locus communis concept were used in the research. The frame of conflict and the frame of human affairs were the dominant frames in Polish opinion dailies. Rzeczpospolita also noted a high degree of saturation of publications with the economic consequences frame. Cultural tópoi prevailed over natural ones. The most numerously represented natural tópoi were: the right to freedom and security, human dignity, the right to life, while the cultural tópoi were: the politics of superpowers, the economic consequences of war, migration and refugees. The greatest interest of Polish dailies in Russia’s war in Ukraine took place just after February 24, 2022, whilst the “freshness effect” decreased only slightly with the passage of time. The article increases the cognitive value in the area of research on the image of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in the Polish opinion press.

The image of Russia in the Minds of Modern Youth Through the Perception of the Stimulus Words "Globalization", "Culture" (Based on the Materials of an Associative Experiment)

The article is a comprehensive analysis of the image of Russia, based on theoretical research and the results of an associative experiment conducted with two groups of subjects: the main (17-25 years old) and control (26-50years old). The aim is to study the perception of the image of Russia in the context of modern globalization and the change of the socio-cultural paradigm. The object of study is representatives of the modern generation of Russianyouth. The subject of the study is the image of Russia formed in the minds of modern youth under the influence of external and internal factors. The relevance of the research is due to the need to study the relationship in the triad of man-culture-globalization, in which an active youth stratum occupies an important place, acting as an indicator of public mood and a determinant of cultural values. The novelty of the research lies in considering the image of Russia through the prism of perception of the words-stimuli "globalization", "culture" according to the results of an associative experiment carried out using two methods – a free associative experiment and a directed associative experiment. The analysis of the obtained data is carried out within the framework of an interdisciplinary approach: psycholinguistic, linguophilosophical and sociological. The method of hermeneutical and comparative analysis of the words image and εἷδoς is used. The question is considered: what dominates in the linguistic consciousness of representatives of modern youth regarding the image of Russia: "image" as an artificial construct imposed from the outside, or constructed by the efforts of the mind and spirit of "eidos"? According to the results of the study, a number of associative reactions to stimulus words were obtained, showing that the image of Russia in the representations of the main age group is formed mainly under the influence of external factors caused by the modern media space (Internet, social networks), and not as a result of internal factors (the work of will, spirit and mind).

Ways to Create a Negative Image of Russia in Georgia's Political Discourse

The importance of this study due to the direct linkage of such issues to the priority directions of development of modern anthropocentric and functionally oriented linguistics that contributes to scientific interest in the study of language and issues of speech influence on the consciousness of individuals, including the explicit form of exposure. This article discusses some ways of creating the image of Russia in political discourse of modern Georgia in interstate conflict that is actively used in information war and implemented by the use of the tactic of creating an enemy image, which appears to be the highest form of discrediting Russia's image. The paper highlights the features of the functioning of language tools used in the technology of demonization of the enemy, taking into account factors such as the situation of communication, its characteristics. Proper use of methods of speech influence, their expressive capabilities helps to achieve the desired result. This study is relevant for specialists engaged in the study of discourse, national and linguistic and cultural features of political discourse, as well as for those interested in ways to create negative images of the likely enemy of the mass addressee.

CHINESE ASSESSMENT OF THE CULTURAL REVOLUTION IN RUSSIA IN THE 90S OF THE XX CENTURY AND ITS CONSEQUENCES

The article examines the concept of “cultural revolution” in Russian science, the relationship between two cultural transformations in Russia and the term “Cultural revolution” in China. The author points out that the main consequences of the second cultural revolution in the USSR / Russia were as follows: 1. Condemnation of an ossified and unified ideology; 2. Erosion of cultural absolutism; 3. Cessation of the policy of strong active pressure on intellectuals. Based on the assessments of Chinese people from all strata of Chinese society, a number of cultural and mass movements, pluralism in the development of culture are described: autochthonous culture, religion, literature, art, etc. Based on the analysis carried out, it is possible to indicate a clear direction for the perception of the culture and image of Russia in the new era by the Chinese masses.

Social Responsibility of Business as a Potential of Russian-African Relations (Empirical Research Experience in the Countries of the African Continent)

The image of Russia and the credibility of its policies are closely linked to the image of its business. The positive or negative perception of Russia as a whole largely depends on how Russian companies do business in Africa. The article presents a study of the social perceptions of Africans of the social responsibility of businesses operating in African countries. A comparative analysis of the representations of the «African side» and the «Russian side» is demonstrated. The empirical basis of the study was the data collected by the author. The results obtained demonstrate significant differences in the perceptions of social responsibility of business among African and Russian respondents. In some cases, diametrically opposite results were obtained. The data indicate that there is a problem area at the level of social perceptions – a potential basis for a lack of understanding or even a conflict between the Russian and the African sides. The author concludes that the ideas of the «correct» models of social responsibility of business among Africans are connected with their value system, with the understanding of «social justice». Knowledge of preferred and rejected business social responsibility models among African partners can be a competitive advantage in establishing Russian-African business relations. It can be assumed that information about the «problem areas» will help to avoid communication errors and «traps» associated with ignorance, misunderstanding and disregard of the social perceptions of African partners. The author suggests that knowledge of the social perceptions, needs, moods, «requests» of the African side is an important condition for building effective business communications and can contribute to the realization of the potential of the Russian-African partnership.

«Тюрьма народов»: рождение метафоры

The article discusses the emergence of the image of the prison of peoples in the European culture. Most often, this image is traced back to the book by Astolf de Custine “Russia in 1839”. However, de Custine, in essence, talks only about one enslaved people in the Russian Empire, namely the Polish. The idea about the prison of peoples took root only after the “non-historical” peoples of the Central and Eastern Europe entered the political scene. The image of Russia as a prison of peoples dates back to the Polish and even more so to the Ukrainian literature and journalism. In the Ukrainian press, referring to Russia as a prison of peoples becomes common practice in the 1900s. Mikhail Grushevsky in his article “Unity or disintegration?” presents this metaphor in its most extensive form. The image of the prison of peoples played an important role in the program documents of the Austrophile Ukrainian organizations of the First World War era. At the same time, Ukrainian leaders did not forget about Polish nationalism, which “would like to build a new „prison of peoples“” in a revived Poland. In the Polish press in 1900— 1917 the prison of peoples was mentioned less frequently, and not in program documents. Lenin most probably borrowed the formula “prison of peoples” from the Ukrainian or Polish press. From Lenin’s journalism it moved into the Soviet political language. Until the First World War, Russia was referred to almost exclusively as the prison of peoples; then the metaphor began to be applied to other countries, primarily to Austria-Hungary.

Образ России в учебниках русского языка

The article presents a study of the relationship between the language and the genre of speech as different types of communication organization which, however, have a common communicative nature. The research hypothesis is that the language offers options for the verbal embodiment of the image of Russia, but the genre (textbook) selects from the options the one that corresponds to the type of communication between the authors of the textbook (addressers) and the students (addressees). The research is based on the subject vocabulary, which has been extracted from didactic text materials of the analyzed Russian language textbooks and has been organized into lexico-semantic groups for more meaningful analysis. A quantitative and qualitative analysis of the nouns from the texts has shown that in the Russian language textbook for public Russian schools texts selected for its didactic material reflect the image of the country, created by the authors of works from the «golden» fund of Russian literature. These works highlight the Russian cultural constants which play the role of moral tuning fork in the spiritual upbringing of a person. The textbook of Russian as a foreign language demonstrates a vulgar and pragmatic view on the image of Russia. Russia is represented as a consumerist society. Moreover, such a view reflects the intentions of disparagement of the country which is represented by the authors in those texts.