post-Soviet Period Research Articles

America against all: The United States’ Struggle to Maintain Global Hegemony

The review article is an analytical study of the fundamental, multifaceted, and highly professional, scientific monograph "America Against All", prepared by a team of authors from the Diplomatic Academy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation. Based on the content of the monograph, it examines both the historical aspects of Russian-American relations – including Russia's assistance in preserving U.S. statehood during the Civil War of the 19th century and the sale of Alaska to the Americans – as well as their state during the Cold War, détente in the 1970s, the collapse of the USSR, the post-Soviet period, and the present. The article substantiates that the United States’ inescapable desire for global domination logically follows from concepts of Anglo-Saxon racial superiority, which emerged at the beginning of the twentieth century, over all other races and peoples. It further shows that Congress imbued with Russophobia. has repeatedly impeded the normalization of relations between the United States and Russia, and that the current divide within U.S. society and the risks leading to a new civil war. The article concludes that this monograph is a significant and innovative contribution to the modern development of Russian American studies.

Belarusian-Lithuanian Relations: How Politics Beats the Economy

The article analyses the dynamics of Belarusian-Lithuanian relations in the post-Soviet period. The historical, cultural and political-economic aspects of the relationship between the two countries are considered. It is noted that Lithuania is the second most active European player in Belarus after Poland. The author emphasises the historical aspect of the relationship between the two countries and demonstrates how different interpretations of the heritage of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania affect the modern relationship between the two states and their peoples. We are talking primarily about the heritage of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. Lithuanian myth generates competition between the two countries, but at the same time forms an idea of the common space of their historical destinies, which fuels Westernising and pro-European sentiments among a part of Belarusian society. The author notes that Lithuania’s foreign policy towards Belarus is dominated by an ideological approach. Lithuania tries to play the role of an operator of democratic changes and the Western geopolitical turn of its eastern neighbor. In this niche a strong competition with Poland and the traditional xenophobia of Lithuanian society towards the Slavs limit the possibilities of Lithuanian influence on Belarus. For its part, Minsk was focused on pragmatic cooperation with Lithuania in the economic sphere and put issues of politics and ideology aside. In particular, Belarus had high hopes for cooperation in the field of energy and transit. The discrepancy between these approaches determines the tense and conflict nature of relations between the two countries.

Intercivilizational Interaction between the United States and the Non-Western World (The Civilizational Identity of Russia in the Context of S. Huntington’s Concept of the Clash of Civilizations)

The article offers a retrospective analysis of S. Huntington’s concept of the clash of civilizations, examining the scholar’s predictions concerning the development scenarios of Russian-Ukrainian relations of the post-Soviet period in the context of wars along the fault lines between civilizations. It characterizes the structure of civilizations, patterns of intercivilizational interaction, and specifics of the identity crisis manifestations in cleft and torn countries. The paper concludes that the predicted conflicting scenario of Russian-Ukrainian relations caused by the confrontation between Western and Orthodox (in S. Huntington's terminology) civilizations is coming true. In the civilizational context, the article explores approaches to deterring Russia, reflected in the documents of RAND Corporation analysts and a lecture by CIA Director W. Burns, delivered at the Ditchley Foundation. Considering Huntington’s provisions about the core role of the Russian state for the Orthodox civilization, as well as the centuries-old tear of identity and public consciousness of Russia, the author believes that the most important task of the state identity politics is nationalizing the Russian elite, overcoming the ideological gap between the nationally-oriented "deep people" and the Western-centric elite groups.

The center-regions relations as a basis for countering external constraints on Russia's economic development

Subject. The article is devoted to acceleration of economic development of Russia as a country in transition. Objectives. The study aims to present the author's vision of conceptual approaches to organization of the economy of the country and regions on an innovative basis, in conjunction with the improvement of center-regional relations as a factor of economic and political development. Methods. The methodological basis of the research is the problem consideration in the context of the theory of peripheral economy of capitalism, and works of domestic and foreign scientists on the development of conceptual foundations for accelerating the development of countries and their regions adapting to the world economy. Results. I substantiated and presented the concept of accelerated development as an alternative to the concepts of catch-up and advanced development, reflected in the literature. The paper unveils shortcomings of the models of center-regional relations tested in the post-Soviet period, which inhibit economic development, and offers a model of reconciliation of interests and a mechanism for transition to new center-regional relations. Conclusions. The scientific research results and proposed approaches to stimulating the acceleration of economic growth in Russia and its regions can be used in the updated process of reforms on economic and social development.

The Philosophical Component of University Education (2010s–mid 2020s)

This article explores the state and progress of philosophical education at Kazan Federal University over the last 15 years. In a brief historical overview, the distinct features of the philosophical curriculum at Kazan University during the pre-revolutionary, Soviet, and post-Soviet periods are identified. The modernization of the university-wide philosophy course for bachelor’s students in the 2020s, focusing on the competency-based approach, is traced. The role of university philosophers in designing and delivering the course “Foundations of the Russian Statehood” is emphasized. The evolution of professional education in the fields of philosophy and religious studies, along with theology related to them, is analyzed. In conclusion, the main challenges faced by the philosophical community in maintaining the relevance of social and humanitarian training for students, as well as in restoring and strengthening the spiritual and moral foundations of university-level philosophy in Russia, are discussed.

Аnтhropologist Overturn and Challenges for Ethno-Sociology (Invitation to Discussion)

The paper analyzes the set of issues related to current problems and eventual prospects of ethno-sociology as a meaningful academic component and feasible disciplinary bgranch in studying ethnic phenomenon. First, contradictory “state of affairs” is diagnosed in this sphere due to the ethnologic (anthropologic) turn. Among real threats for ethnology understood in a wide meaning of the term, including the ethno-sociology, we find the denial in the post-Soviet period of the importance of domestic research experience; the active imposition of Western standards in ethnological research; the dominance and absolutization of anthropologism (anthropocentrism) and constructivism; the absence of ethnosociology in the current Russian educational standard. The passing away of influential founders of ethnosociology, who played an important role in preserving its scientific traditions, as well as the lacking clarity of the subject definition of ethnosociology, are also important. The author’s vision of the essence of the highlighted issues is presented.

УНІВЕРСИТЕТСЬКА ОСВІТА В ІСТОРІОГРАФІЇ УКРАЇНСЬКОЇ ПЕДАГОГІЧНОЇ КОМПАРАТИВІСТИКИ: КРАЇНОЗНАВЧИЙ ВЕКТОР

The article deals with the analysis of the country studies vector of Ukrainian comparative studies on the development of higher and university education in order to identify the achievements, bottlenecks and prospects for the formation of historiography of this problem. It has been revealed the complexity, multidimensionality and interdisciplinary nature of Ukrainian historiography on the development of foreign higher and university education. Taking into account the territorial-spatial and thematic-content orientation of the research, its structure includes five conditional interrelated blocks of works that consider higher and university education: 1) as a global and regional education system; 2) in the context of the phenomena «Bologna Process/European Education Area - foreign countries – Ukraine»; 3) in certain regions (mainly European); 4) in different countries; 5) in terms of the main subject of the study. The paper identifies three stages of development of the historiographical process, which reflected the peculiarities, nature, and trends in the study of national systems of higher and university education in foreign countries: 1) the post-Soviet period (1991-2001), when their targeted study began in the mid-1990s; 2) pro-European (2002-2011/12), when the perspective of studying this problem moved to the context of understanding the process of integration of foreign countries into the European Higher Education Area; 3) country studies (since 2012), when scholars began to study foreign higher education systems as separate socio-cultural phenomena. It has been revealed a narrow country studies vector of Ukrainian comparative scholars, who focused on the study of mainly five to six national higher education systems. The author characterises the phenomenon of numerous studies that have the same subject matter: on the one hand, it is objectively determined by the research interests of the authors, on the other hand, it leads to duplication of factual material and theoretical provisions.

Political sociology in Armenia: stages of institutionalization and priorities

The rise of sociology as a science, reflecting modernization processes in society and exerting significant influence on them, developed during the post-Soviet period of Armenian reality. This development was facilitated by ‘discovery’ of sociology by the post-Soviet society and the close (though not always equal) interaction of domestic sociologists with Western sociological schools. Additionally, the participation of Western sociologists of Armenian nationality contributed to the formation of Armenian statehood as well as to growth of sociology as an academic discipline in Armenia. Under the influence of democratization processes, political sociology focused primarily on the transitional Armenian society, addressing the formation of power institutions and the utilization of political technologies. Regional dynamics, traditional and new foreign policy processes in Armenia, threats, and risks influenced the study of foreign policy guidelines within Armenian society. This also led to the formation and development of sociology of conflict and military sociology, closely linked to political sociology and sometimes inseparable. The effective managing of the Armenian state and society directly correlates with the integration of political sociology into political practices, and with demand for sociological knowledge, especially sociological forecasts, among decision-makers.

Searching for New Identities: The Belarusian Minority in the Latvian-Belarusian Borderlands from the 1920s to the 1990s

The research presented here is based on life stories that were collected during fieldwork in the Latvian-Belarusian borderland from 2003 to 2020 by the Oral History Centre of Daugavpils University. These oral testimonies of Belarusians disclose the circumstances that facilitated or interfered with their involvement in local society, and the changes which occurred in their sense of self-identity. The results of a comparison of three groups of Belarusians demonstrate major differences between identity, formed during the existence of the independent state, the Soviet period, and the post-Soviet period in Latvia’s history. The groups concerned are: (1) Belarusians born during the 1920s and 1930s in the territory of Latvia; (2) Belarusians born during the 1920s and 1930s who moved to the territory of Latvia in the 1940s and 1950s; and (3) Belarusians born during the 1940s and 1950s who moved to the territory of Latvia in the 1960s and 1970s. Belarusians of group 1 mostly integrated successfully into Latvian society, preserving their ethnic identity to some extent. The Soviet migrants (groups 2 and 3), influenced by communist ideology and russification, with some exceptions mostly identified with the ‘Soviet people’, ignoring ethnicity. These Belarusians integrated successfully into Soviet Latvia, but after the collapse of the USSR they had problems recognising the political changes, and needed support in finding their own place in Latvian society.

Vietnamese Migrants in Modern Russia: Resettlement, Institutions and Social Boundaries

In the post-Soviet period, migrants from Asian countries were unevenly distributed across Russian regions, which influenced the emergence of ethnic markets in the 1990s. In order to advance the field of migration and border studies, it is important to understand why communities of Vietnamese rather than Chinese or Central Asian migrants have formed in some cities. The presence of migrants suggested designating certain places with ethnic terms, etc. The paper is intended to answer the following questions: what is the geography of the settlement of migrants from Vietnam, in what cities and why exactly were Vietnamese markets formed and what migration institutions arose thanks to them. The archival documents from the post-Soviet era, and the results of the Autor’s field work in Magnitogorsk, Orenburg and Ufa made the source base for the research. The materials collected in Moscow, Chelyabinsk and Yekaterinburg provided great assistance. The methodological basis of the manuscript is the theory of mobility. Vietnamese communities were formed by migrants who did not leave Russian cities after 1991. The Vietnamese in these cities were engaged in commercial entrepreneurship, established Vietnamese markets and social infrastructure, invited compatriots through these institutions, and provided various kinds of support to “their own” people. However, the economic instability in Russia led to the immobility of the Vietnamese, both intentionally or involuntarily, which had a profound impact on the geography of the Vietnamese settlement in Russia and the ways of organizing social ties.

The Constitutional Foundations of the Russian State Policy in the Field of Family Protection and Traditional Family Values

The paper presents an analysis of constitutional provisions aimed at protecting the family in various periods of Russian statehood, shows the multi-vector nature of state policy in the field of family relations in the Soviet period, characterizes the family and demographic policy of the post-Soviet period, analyzes the constitutional novelties of 2020 aimed at strengthening the family and the spiritual and moral values of Russian society. An analysis of the constitutional category of «traditional family values» is carried out from the perspective of the needs of the individual, family as a social group and the importance of family for society and the state. The institution of family is considered as an intrinsic value and a basic determinant of the formation of the spiritual and moral heritage of Russian society, the preservation of the cultural identity of the Russian nation. The author provides the data from an official survey involving Russians that testifies to the attitude towards the family. The article also outlines the results of a research conducted by domestic scientists stating the unfavorable transformational processes taking place with the institution of family in the past 30 years. These include voluntary childlessness and celibacy; postponing the birth of children to later age periods; reducing the value of a family with several children; preference among young people for actual marital relations (common-law marriage) to a registered marriage. The author considers the protection of the family and family values as a task for ensuring the national security of Russia, the solution of which is aimed at preserving the all-Russian identity, sustainable development of the state, preservation of socially significant spiritual and moral values. The author substantiates the proposal on the need to form in society the idea of the importance of the family as a value in itself, which implies a responsible attitude to marriage, birth and upbringing of children, encouragement and support of a multigenerational and large family, respect for the elderly, disapproval of the rejection of the birth and upbringing of children.

THE HISTORY OF CREATION OF MINING AND INDUSTRIAL SUPERVISION IN RUSSIA: WAY FROM BERG COLLEGIUM TO ROSTEKHNADZOR

The history of creation of mining and industrial supervision in Russia raises main stages of its formation: Russian Tsardom (1547–1721), Russian Empire (1721–1917), Soviet period (1922–1991) and post-Soviet period (1991 – present day). The article describes а timeline of mining and industrial supervision in each of indicated stages: description of key regulatory documents, functions of organs, responsible for managing in field a safe conduct of work, associated with use of subsoil.

Trends of climate change in Mountain Altai during post-soviet period

Trends of climate change in Mountain Altai during post-soviet period

Formal and Composition Stability of Ekaterinburg Historical Center

Preserving the city structural elements of architectural and urban planning culture, is currently the most important task. It is necessary to achieve a sustainable development, preserve historical heritage and cultivate a careful attitude towards the culture of the Russian Federation. It is important to take into account the morphological integrity of the historically developed urban environment, which is considered through the prism of formal compositional stability. The article presents the analysis of the architectural and urban development to identify the most stable structural elements of Yekaterinburg. Systematic and historical approaches are the methodology of the study, which allows to consistently analyze the extensive material using urban planning and retrospective analysis.The article proposes periodic formation and development of the structural elements of the historical center from the beginning of the city formation to the present, including six periods: pre-reform, post-reform, pre-war period, war and post-war period, developed socialism and perestroika, postSoviet period. Structural elements of the historical center are reconstructed, reflecting the evolution of the formal and composition aspect of the city in each period of its historical development. Lost and most stable structural elements of the city are identified and can be protected as heritage.

ДЕКОНСТРУКЦИЯ И РЕКОНФИГУРАЦИЯ ГЕНДЕРНОГО ДИСКУСА В КАЗАХСТАНЕ: АНАЛИЗ СОВРЕМЕННЫХ ПОЛИТИЧЕСКИХ ВЕКТОРОВ

This article provides an in-depth analysis of the deconstruction and reconfiguration of gender discourse in Kazakhstan, based on an examination of current political vectors guiding transformations in the field of gender relations. The central task of the study is to identify key factors influencing the transformation of gender policy in Kazakhstan against the backdrop of global changes and modernization processes taking place in the country. The article examines the stages of the evolution of gender policy, starting from the post-Soviet period, when Kazakhstan began integrating into international organizations, paying special attention to promoting gender equality. Special attention is given to analyzing the interaction between national and international norms in the context of gender policy formation, as well as adapting global initiatives to local conditions. Structural issues, such as the insufficient institutionalization of gender strategies and the slow progress in achieving real gender equality, are highlighted. The article discusses both normative achievements, including the adoption of new legislative measures and programs, and the challenges of their implementation in the face of socio-economic and cultural barriers. The research is based on a comprehensive approach, incorporating both quantitative and qualitative methods of analysis. Data from international studies, statistical reports, and qualitative interviews with key stakeholders involved in the gender policy-making process are utilized. A comparative analysis of Kazakhstan’s gender initiatives with similar processes in other post-Soviet countries is also presented. In conclusion, the article offers prospects for the further development of gender policy in Kazakhstan, including potential strategic directions for deepening the integration of gender equality into the country's social, political, and economic spheres. The author hypothesizes that successful promotion of gender equality requires not only political will but also a profound transformation of societal attitudes and practices, which can be achieved through a strengthened interdisciplinary approach and active engagement of civil society.

The post-Soviet break in economic ties between Russia and Africa: causes and consequences

The article analyzes the causes and consequences of the post-Soviet breakdown of economic ties between Russia and Africa. The post-Soviet period (since 1991) has led to a breakdown of economic ties between them. It means that trade, investment, and other forms of economic cooperation between the two sides have been significantly reduced or stopped completely. After the collapse of the Soviet Union at the initiative of Mikhail Gorbachev, Africa really became a “non-subject” for diplomats and military personnel stationed in the region, and some economic actors witnessed Moscow’s first initiatives. It was only in early 2018, on the occasion of the arrival of the first shipments of Russian weapons and dozens of “advisers” from Moscow in Bangui, that the French media learned of Russia’s “great comeback” in Africa. This Central African prism powerfully shaped perceptions in Paris: Russian involvement would be a new phenomenon echoing the confrontation between East and West, and Central Africa would be a crucial link in a grand strategy on a continental scale, where Russia would be on its way to establishing itself as a major player. The severing of economic ties between Russia and Africa has negative consequences for both regions, including reduced trade, investment, and political influence, and Russia’s lack of resources and changing political priorities since the collapse of the Soviet Union are the main reasons for it.

О судоустройстве в Северной Осетии в досоветский, советский и постсоветский периоды (к 250-летию присоединения Осетии к России)

The article examines the features of the judicial system and the exercise of judicial power in North Ossetia in different historical periods. It is argued that they are determined by a complex of specific reasons, among which the reasons of a spiritual-ideological, historical-political, legal and socio-psychological nature stand out. The main role of the Ossetian military intelligentsia in introducing their people to Russian, European culture, way of life, forms of government, including in the sphere of judicial power, is noted. The issues of organization and abolition of various judicial institutions in the 19th-20th centuries, their dependence on local characteristics and frequent transformations of administrative and judicial institutions in this period are considered. The activities related to the establishment of Soviet courts are covered. The new judicial system and the principle of formation of the judiciary in the post-Soviet period are revealed and criticized. The activities of the abolished constitutional (statutory) courts of the constituent entities of the Russian Federation are assessed positively and convincingly. Proposals are being made for the organization of constitutional councils in the constituent entities of the Russian Federation.

In the labyrinth of ideological search: ways to construct a memory of an uncomfortable past (on example of events of the 1917 Revolution and the Civil War)

This article is devoted to the problem of constructing a collective memory of the "inconvenient past" by modern elites of Russia on the example of the events of the 1917 revolution and the subsequent civil war. The conflict aspects of commemoration (installation of monuments and memorial signs) in the process of constructing an official historical narrative are considered. Concidered changes in the official historical narrative regarding the "difficult past" in different periods of time. The preservation of historical memory largely depends on the political objectives of the current government, which not only supports collective memory through various commemorative practices, but also constructs a modern historical narrative. This narrative does not imply the restoration of Soviet historiography; it combines a variety of interpretations of the events of the Revolution and the Civil War in the context of building the historical continuity of Russian statehood. Therefore, the images of some Soviet figures coexist with the figures of their opponents, forming ideas among the mass audience about patriotic service to the Russian state, regardless of ideological and political views. The "lost memory" is not being restored; current generations of Russians have not accepted the political experience of supporters of democratic socialism, who rejected Bolshevism and did not support the "white movement" in the civil war. The attitude towards the losers in the fight against the Bolsheviks today is negative, as towards weak and incapable politicians. Considering historical memory as an integral part of collective memory, it is concluded that only those events of the past that are perceived by society as extremely useful for modern generations are integrated into the structure of collective consciousness. In addition, the inertia of public consciousness affects the "selection of event material". For this reason, during the entire post-Soviet period, it was not possible to completely replace the former Soviet ideological cliches with a new historical narrative.

П ЛАНИРОВАНИЕ НАУЧНО-ТЕХНИЧЕСКОГО И СОЦИАЛЬНО-ЭКОНОМИЧЕСКОГО РАЗВИТИЯ В РЕГИОНАХ СЕВЕРО-ЗАПАДА: ИСТОРИЧЕСКИЙ КОНТЕКСТ

The article presents the history of the development of strategic documents for scientific, technical, and socio-economic development in the St. Petersburg region and the North-West Federal District. The research was conducted by the Institute for Re- gional Economic Studies of Russian Academy of Sciences, which previously was known as the Institute of Socio-Economic Problems of Academy of Sciences of the USSR. The Institute’s focus on large cities and regions allowed it to apply its fundamental knowledge for solving practical problems in the fields of science, technology, and integrated socio-economic development. Examples of im- portant strategic documents developed in the Soviet era include the Comprehensive program of scientific and technical progress and Intensification-90 for Leningrad and the Leningrad region. In the post-Soviet period, the Institute contributed to the development of strategies for socio-economic development of St. Petersburg and the North-West Federal District as well as the concept of scien- tific and technological development of St. Petersburg, the strategy for the “science-education-innovation” complex in the North- West Federal District and the comprehensive scientific and technical program of the North-West Federal District.

Migrants from China and Vietnam in South Ural Region (1991–2014)

This article addresses the formation of Chinese and Vietnamese migrant communities in major cities of the South Ural region during the post-Soviet period. The authors focus on Chelyabinsk and Magnitogorsk, as these cities have hosted functioning Chinese (in Chelyabinsk) and Vietnamese (in Magnitogorsk) markets for an extended period. The manuscript’s source base consists of archival materials from the State Archive of the Russian Federation, the Unified State Archive of Chelyabinsk Region, as well as texts from regional periodicals. Methodologically, the authors draw upon mobility theory and the concept of the right to the city. By utilizing these sources, the study traces how migration from Southeast Asian countries to the South Ural region evolved, how migrants adapted to changes in the national context, and how they navigated new social niches, demonstrating flexibility in modernizing and reorienting their infrastructure — from predominantly marketbased trading to agriculture, among other sectors. Although Chinese and Vietnamese migrants are not numerous today, the institutions established by the first wave of post-Soviet migration continue to operate.