post-Soviet Research Articles

Flashbacks of the bad old days? The bureaucratization of Czech universities in the post-communist era

AbstractNumerous countries are reportedly witnessing the bureaucratization of universities, manifesting inter alia in a gradual increase in the administrative burden that overshadows the core missions of universities. Regrettably, there is a notable gap in research specifically focused on bureaucratization of higher education institutions in post-communist countries, where state bureaucratic control over economies, societies, and academic institutions prevailed before 1990. This article seeks to address this gap by examining the perception of the administrative burden among a representative sample of 1117 Czech academic workers, utilizing a diverse range of methods, including an experimental component. The majority of academics are experiencing an escalation in administrative demands that curtails the time and effort they can allocate to research and teaching. While they do see potential in digitalization and modern technology, they view the existing university bureaucracy as inefficient, ever-increasing, and excessively regulated, particularly in relation to grants and subsidy programs. Notably, for many seasoned academics who have lived through communism, modern university bureaucracy is a reminder of the “bad old days.”

Субсидии в постсоветских государствах

An analysis of the characteristics of subsidies in post-Soviet states was carried out; the main features of subsidies in some countries of the former USSR are considered; The features of the legal regulation of subsidies and their relationship with other forms of budget expenditures are identified.

Prospects for the Development of Venture Capital as an Economic Institution in Post-Soviet Countries

Prospects for the Development of Venture Capital as an Economic Institution in Post-Soviet Countries

Soviet State and Nomadic Peoples of Southern Russia: Social-Political Processes and Natural-Climatic Factors (1920s-1930s)

This study examines Soviet national policy towards nomadic peoples during the 1920s1930s, a period when the foundations of national-state building in the USSR were being laid and developed. The research focuses on a specific region — Southern Russia, one of the most multiethnic macro-regions of the country. The study investigates the implementation of socio-economic and national policies of the Soviet state in the territory of ethnic minorities such as the Kalmyks, Nogais, and Stavropol Turkmen. Common specific characteristics of the nomadic population are noted: religious fanaticism, social isolation, innate closedness. Eradicating these negative qualities among the Kalmyks, Nogais, Stavropol Turkmen, and integrating them into the all-Russian space required authorities to adopt a differentiated approach to working with each ethnic group. It is proven that by implementing the national policy of the Soviet state through solving urgent socio-economic problems of the Kalmyks, Nogais, and Stavropol Turkmen, the authorities were able to achieve at least two main objectives to some extent. The first objective was to lift the mentioned nomadic peoples out of socio-economic crisis, mainly through stimulating and developing agriculture, despite the challenging natural-climatic conditions of the region. The second objective was to ensure the transition of nomads to a settled way of life.

Первый выпуск возрожденной Саратовской духовной семинарии 1947–1951 годов: начальствующие, учащие и учащиеся

This article is devoted to the study of the revival process of theological education in the conditions of pressure on the Russian Orthodox Church of the atheistic Soviet state, using the example of the first graduates of the Saratov Theological Seminary, revived in 1947. The article shows the traditions and problems inherited from the pre-revolutionary Saratov Theological Seminary, and new challenges dictated by the godless atheistic state. Changes in the teaching staff of the seminary during the period under study and their impact on the process of education and upbringing of seminarians are considered. The results of teaching the seminarians are illustrated by the memories of colleagues and parishioners, reviews of the clergy, and archival documents of the authorized of the Council for the Affairs of the Russian Orthodox Church (hereinafter referred to as the Council). Based on the analysis of the first seminary graduates’ destiny, a conclusion was made about the effectiveness of the educational process at the Saratov Theological Seminary in 1947–1951.

ТЕХНИЧЕСКОЕ ОСНАЩЕНИЕ И ДОБЫЧА РЫБЫ В ИРКУТСКОЙ ОБЛАСТИ В 1947–1960-е гг.

The fishing industry plays a vital role in the development of the national economy, so its study is one of the most pressing problems for the economy of the region as a whole. The paper analyzes and summarizes the historical experience of the fishing industry, which is necessary to assess the current situation in the fishing industry and determine the further development of the industry. The functioning of the Soviet model of fisheries was ensured by a system of state support, which made it possible to successfully develop the fishing industry and solve social problems of coastal regions. The country's leadership always paid great attention to the development of the fishing industry as the most important sector of food supply for the population. During the years of Soviet power, in a short period of time, based on the implementation of plans for the industrialization of the country, the material and technical base of the fishing industry was created. Using the example of the Republic of Buryatia, the author examines the historical experience of combating poaching and notes the role of mobilization decisions of the Soviet state in this process. The current Soviet legislation on nature protection, the history of creation, structure and main functions of fisheries protection bodies are analyzed. Based on archival data, the number of detained offenders, the number of seized fish, fishing equipment and gear are given. A special place is given to the nature conservation society and the role of public inspectors, who, along with fisheries protection authorities, fought against poaching. An assessment is made of the technical equipment of fisheries protection authorities and criminal legal measures in preventing aquatic poaching based on an analysis of the established practice of their use in the period 1917–2000 in the Republic of Buryatia.

Corruption, development, and the state in Putin’s Russia

ABSTRACT The paper investigates the determinants of corruption in Russia based on an original survey of 1,376 businesspeople in 39 regions. Regression analysis reveals economically and statistically significant correlations between bribes, development, and state intervention in the economy. Using the instrumental variable of geographical location, this paper provides supportive evidence for a causal (negative) relationship between prosperity and bribes. It finds a positive correlation between regional corruption and state ownership and a negative one between corruption and the size of the bureaucracy. These results hold for both perceived and experiential corruption. This paper contributes to the investigation of corruption in Russia and post-communist countries. It illustrates the importance of economic development, effective bureaucracy, and the reduction of state property for mitigating corruption.

Восприятие Блеза Паскаля и его наследия советской официальной культурой 1920–1930-х гг.

The perception of Blaise Pascal by the official Soviet culture of the 1920–1930s has not yet become the subject of a special study. At a new historical turn, the scientific and spiritual legacy of the French thinker was inevitably subject to revision. The authors set themselves the task of revealing the peculiarities of constructing the image of Pascal and interpreting his ideas in the society of mass intellectual culture. The main material for the article was information about Pascal, which a Soviet citizen could obtain from encyclopedic dictionaries, textbooks, popular science articles and periodicals. It is concluded that the personality and works of the French genius of the 17th century were important in arranging a dialogue between the new Soviet culture and traditional European culture in general, and the French culture in particular. In the 1920–1930s the “Soviet traditionalism” was emerging, i. e. the practice of the Soviet state to create boundaries of loyalty for traditionalism, which, first of all, affects intellectual culture. The European bourgeois culture and the specific case of Pascal were inscribed into the new coordinates. The “boundaries of loyalty” set for the legacy of the French genius brought to the fore Pascal the scientist and Pascal the philosophizing writer. The emphasis on the Descartes/Pascal opposition, which reflects the spiritual, philosophical, cultural and ideological conflicts of the new Soviet state, is meaningful. In this conflict, Pascal became a kind of “hidden man”, whose spiritual experience is disguised under the proclaimed atheistic mundanity. However, the essence of the internal structure of Pascal’s personality turns out to be close to the asceticism and anti-bourgeois nature of the Soviet culture. Pascal becomes a role model for the Soviet people in terms of shaping themselves on the path to a bright and just society.

Трансформация советской системы образования в 1920–1930-е гг. (на примере Саратова)

During the 1920–1930s, the young Soviet state faced numerous challenges, including the establishment of new governmental bodies and the development of an educational model aimed at fostering citizens with Soviet consciousness. However, the almost total illiteracy of the country’s population at that time brought to the forefront the urgent need for the development of campaign against illiteracy. Saratov, as one of the largest cities in the Volga region, was no exception in this regard. Based on the analysis of archival materials and published sources, application of methods of system, statistical and structural analysis, the author of the article comes to the conclusion that as part of the campaign against illiteracy in Saratov in the 1920–1930s, a modern model of education was created, consisting of secondary mass schools, vocational and higher education. By establishing a comprehensive educational framework, including primary schooling and pathways to vocational and higher education, Saratov played a vital role in advancing the Soviet agenda of literacy and ideological indoctrination. Furthermore, the case of Saratov underscores the complex interplay between educational policy, societal needs, and political imperatives in shaping the trajectory of educational development in the early Soviet era. Moving forward, continued research into local initiatives and their broader implications for national educational strategies will deepen our understanding of the dynamic evolution of education in the Soviet Union.

Rituals of nonbelonging and their emotional toll: Encounters with the orthodox Jewish weddings and burials among generation 1.5 former Soviet Union immigrants in Israel

This article examines the encounters of Generation 1.5 Jewish immigrants from the former Soviet Union (FSU) with the Orthodox establishment within the framework of weddings and burials in Israel. These Orthodox Jewish weddings and burials are referred to here as rituals of nonbelonging and provide a lens for understanding the role of rituals in the marginalisation and exclusion of immigrants and ethnic minorities from religious and national collectives. The article argues that rituals of nonbelonging originate in the more extensive politics of nonbelonging and reflect an exclusion that provokes negative emotions among marginalised minorities due to the perceived threats to social bonds.

Reassessing Soviet industrialization as primitive Soviet accumulation: Social reproduction, collectivization and peasant women's revolts under Stalin

AbstractThis paper adopts a novel Social Reproduction feminist approach to re‐evaluate the Soviet experience of industrialization within the context of global research on primitive accumulation. I analyse the first Five‐Year Plan as a unique process of ‘primitive Soviet accumulation,’ focusing on the Zhenotdel collectivization campaign and the often‐overlooked role of Zhenotdel peasant women delegates [krestyanki delegatki]. The study explores their involvement in peasant women's revolts against collectivization, emphasizing the significance of these events for the Zhenotdel's emancipatory programme in the village. Considering class as a social relation to the conditions of life's reproduction, I demonstrate: (1) how primitive Soviet accumulation reshaped the gendered metabolic relationship between land and labour during the first Five‐Year Plan and (2) yet, the allocation of surplus into the expanded Soviet state apparatus laid the foundation for the distinctive Soviet mother–worker gender contract and social citizenship model.

THE REVERSE IMPACT OF THE «SOCIALIST REALISM» METHOD IN CREATING A HERO'S PERSONALITY AND MODERN KAZAKH NOVEL

The era of the Soviet Union proved that real national literature cannot be created under colonialism. The "Socialist realism" method created by the authorities had a reverse impact on the nature of the artistic image. The characters in the work are politicized. Special attention was paid to the class division (rich and poor), and the images were depicted one-sidedly. The collapse of the USSR allowed the development of a new type of literature in the post-Soviet countries. In the research paper, we made comparisons, and the damage caused by the method of "socialist realism" to fiction is mentioned. However, these years were also successful. Kazakh literature has developed in terms of genres. The genre of the novel has been mastered. Talented writers have mastered describing the reality of life with clues. Literary tradition and skill practices were used in the literature of the period of Independence. The fate and history of the nation were shown in innovative novels. Modern realities and changed human psychology were depicted together with the world space. A stream of postmodern, realistic novels came to literature. The release of the novel from political restrictions allowed genre change (historical, biographical, satirical, fantasy, etc.). The storytelling style has been renewed. There was new artistic and stylistic research in creating a hero’s personality.

К вопросу о внешнеполитической деятельности буддистов СССР в контексте вероисповедной политики советского государства (1950–1970-е гг.)

Introduction. At present, when there is an intensification of cultural exchanges, political and economic contacts between Russia and Asian countries, it may be useful to study the experience of the history of relations between Buddhist organizations of different countries in international non-governmental organizations in the post-war decades. The purpose is to study some details of the international activities of the Buddhist clergy in the 1950s–1970s, namely: the features of interaction between Soviet state bodies and the Central Spiritual Administration of Buddhists and some aspects of the history of the participation of Soviet Buddhists in international non-governmental organizations. Materials. The main sources of the article were materials of the State Archive of the Russian Federation, as well as other archives of the country. A number of archival documents are being introduced into scientific circulation for the first time. Conclusions. The institutionalization of Buddhism was carried out under the full control of the Soviet state, but at the same time it contributed to its development and spread, albeit in a limited form in various regions of the country. The direct foreign policy activity of Soviet Buddhists, in the conditions of the Cold War, was subordinated to the guidelines of the party, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the relevant competent departments. The Buddhists of the USSR were the agents of state policy in the international arena in the East. Since 1970, after the formation, on the initiative of the Soviet government, of the international organization “Asian Buddhist Conference for Peace”, Mongolia has become a key Buddhist diplomatic partner of the USSR. In the context of the formation of a “new world order,” people’s Buddhist diplomacy today can become one of the main actors in international relations.

Checklist of hosts, illustrated geographical range, and ecology of tick species from the genus Ixodes (Acari, Ixodidae) in Russia and other post-Soviet countries.

Hard ticks (Acari: Ixodidae) are the economically and ecologically most important blood-sucking arthropod vectors that can transmit disease agents under temperate climate. In this group, the highest number of species (currently nearing 270) belongs to the genus Ixodes. For this review, more than 400 papers related to this genus in the context of Russia were checked for data on the host records, locations of collection, as well as ecology of assigned tick species. This monograph compensates for the lack of a similarly comprehensive English-language overview of Ixodes species in the region of Russia for nearly half century, and also makes a large set of data easily available for international readers, which is especially important if the original source is difficult to access from outside this country. In addition, the data from a significant number of papers on this topic available only in the Russian language are made accessible through this work.

Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus’ Sergius and the Soviet State

At the end of 1925, Metropolitan Sergius of Nizhny Novgorod assumed the position of Deputy Patriarchal Locum Tenens. He undertook the task of formulating the Church’s position in relation to state authorities. Its authentic expression was the draft “Appeal”. which was rejected by the government, leading to the arrest of its author. After his release, Metropolitan Sergius, together with the Synod, issued a Message referred to as a “Declaration” in journalism. It emphasized the loyalty of the clergy and the Orthodox people to the Soviet government. Some clergymen criticized the Declaration, but a significant majority of the episcopate, clergy, and church people reacted with understanding to its publication. At the end of 1936, Metropolitan Sergius assumed the position of Locum Tenens following a false report of the death of Locum Tenens Peter. In fact, the holy Martyr Peter was still alive at that time, but in October 1937, he was shot. 1937 marked the peak of the terror. A new blow struck the Orthodox Church. On September 1, 1939, the Second World War began. As a result of the expansion of the borders of the Soviet state to the west, the Moscow Patriarchate effectively gained control over the dioceses of the Baltic States, Western Belarus, Western Ukraine, and Moldova. In the new territories, churches were closed only in exceptional cases. On June 22, 1941, Germany attacked the USSR. On the first day of the war, the Locum Tenens composed a Message in which he blessed the Orthodox people for the defense of the Fatherland. From October 1941 to August 1943, the Patriarchate was located in Ulyanovsk. After its return to Moscow, Stalin and Molotov met with Metropolitans Sergius, Alexy, and Nikolai in the Kremlin. At the meeting, permission was given to convene the Council of Bishops, the most important act of which was the election of Sergius as Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus’. Patriarch Sergius died on May 15, 1944.

Central Bank Independence and Oil Prices Impact on Macroeconomic Indicators

The central bank's independence and oil prices can influence macroeconomic indicators. Many articles are devoted to studying their influence on individual macroeconomic indicators. As it turned out, the study's results depend on the sample of countries and the interval. They can lead to contradictory conclusions: from a negative or positive effect to its complete absence. However, these issues have not been sufficiently studied for post-Soviet countries with peculiarities in their past development. This study examines the impact of central bank independence (CBI) and oil prices on economic growth, inflation, and income inequality in post-Soviet and developed countries from 2001 to 2020. Based on the analysis of panel data, it was found that strengthening the independence of central banks does not significantly impact economic growth, inflation, and income inequality in developed countries but contributes to their reduction in post-Soviet countries. Higher oil prices reduce economic growth and increase income inequality in developed countries and reduce economic growth, but do not affect income inequality in post-Soviet countries. An increase in oil price increments increases inflation in both samples of countries. The results of this study may be useful for developing macroeconomic policies.

Optimizing the use of intangible assets in industry to overcome poverty: a cross-country analysis

The article focuses on the description and utilization of intangible assets (IA), particularly in industry, as a means of alleviating poverty. The authors examine the experiences of European countries, as well as Ukraine and Kyrgyzstan, and evaluates existing approaches to granting access to intangible assets following international law. Given that only 40% of the global population has access to the Internet and participates in the digital economy, addressing inequality in this realm is a pressing global issue recognized by the G20. Economic inequality, defined in economic theory as the gap between the rich and the poor in terms of income, wealth, education, employment, and living standards within and across countries and regions, will be considered in this article as a disparity in economic well-being indicators. Generally, it is noteworthy that intangible assets (hereinafter referred to as the IA) are crucial, enabling enterprises to develop. They serve as primary indicators of technological progress and enterprise development, reflecting its innovative direction. Consequently, the accounting and auditing of IA play a vital role in industrial enterprises in Ukraine. However, insufficient legislative frameworks in post-Soviet countries, notably Kyrgyzstan, hinder the ability of intangible assets to contribute to poverty alleviation. The income distribution in these countries, which is closely linked to the issue of inequality, is viewed in a positivist theoretical framework from a functional perspective, specifically as the allocation of income among the principal factors of production. Changes in poverty levels in post-Soviet countries can also be attributed to investments in intangible assets that benefit households. Possessing social capital in the form of quality education, health, or land can lead to more favorable earning prospects and can function as intangible capital. One notable characteristic of industry in post-Soviet countries is its urban concentration, which can be attributed to the presence of individuals with more valuable intangible assets in urban areas.

Architectural and artistic solutions of the OTC during the gentrification of soviet cinemas

In the professional environment of architects, there is concern about the formation of a trend of reconstruction and renovation of buildings and structures in large and major cities in order to develop urban infrastructure. The underestimation of the contribution of Soviet architecture to the cultural heritage of post-Soviet countries and countries of the socialist camp is noted. At the same time, the "new architecture" forms the urban environment under the stereotypes of homologation, which does not correspond to the socio-cultural demand of the glocalization of "digital nomads" seeking to live in eco-digital cities. The obsolescence of the "new architecture" is observed already at the project stage or in five years. In Moscow, the reconstruction program includes 39 Soviet cinemas in the peripheral zone of the city. Public and shopping complexes with underground levels are being built on the site of these cinemas. The article classifies the types of projects of Soviet cinemas and shopping centers, and also forms diagrams for their qualitative comparison. This eventually made it possible to evaluate the architectural and artistic contribution to the Moscow development of both Soviet cinemas and new shopping complexes, the continuity between them and differences in design principles.

ИЗМЕНЕНИЕ СТРУКТУРЫ И ФОРМ УЧЕТА ФАКТОВ ДЕТСКОЙ И МЛАДЕНЧЕСКОЙ СМЕРТНОСТИ В ЕЖЕГОДНОЙ ДЕМОГРАФИЧЕСКОЙ ОТЧЕТНОСТИ КРАСНОЯРСКОГО КРАЯ В 1959–1985 гг.

The paper examines the change in the forms and structure of recording infant and child mortality in the Krasnoyarsk Region in the period 1959–1985 based on annual reports on vital statistics in the context of changes in the demographic policy of the USSR. The hypothesis is that the problem of child and infant mortality was quite acute for the Soviet state, and in certain periods unsatisfactory indicators were perceived painfully, as a result of which the question of the accuracy and depth of accounting for demographic processes developing in the age group of children under one year old will be reflected in the forms and the structure of annual demographic reporting. A retrospective analysis of accounting forms clearly shows that over time, the development of medicine, methods and systems for recording demographic facts, statistical accounting of various aspects relating to the facts of child and infant mortality becomes more and more detailed and deep. Separate forms appear, devoted only to the issue of the circumstances of death of children under the age of one year or under the age of one month, and their share in the total volume of annual demographic reporting only grows over the years, which indicates the correctness of the initial hypothesis. It was also discovered that statistical authorities focused their attention on the demographic processes that took place among the indigenous peoples of the Far North, Siberia and the Far East, especially in the short period of 1963–1964. The author of the article presents his own conclusions based on what is presented in the main part of the material in relation to the theory of epidemiological transition.

PROBLEMS OF TERMINOLOGY AND PROFESSIONAL COMMUNICATION IN THE POST-SOVIET SPACE (CASE STUDY OF THE REPUBLIC OF KAZAKHSTAN)

Terminology and professional communication in post-Soviet states are analyzed, as exemplified by the Republic of Kazakhstan. An excursus into the history of linguistic development of Eurasia and Central Asia, achievements of Turkic and Iranian countries in compiling dictionaries, imperial and Soviet periods. The groundbreaking terminological works and dictionaries in the Kazakh SSR are presented. The founders of Kazakh linguistics considered the term as a means of scientific communication, transfer of complex thought, new information, elevation of human reason; the term should be created not from artificial symbols and obscured foreign language morphemes, but from the morphological material of national languages, taking into account the factors of the cultural code and continuity of the memory of the people. The principle of localization of terminology in the Soviet and post-Soviet periods of the Kazakh language was nearly inviolately observed. The methods of borrowing terminology in Kazakh rank as follows: calque (including explication and equivalent); internationalism-semicalque; hybridization of internationalisms with genuine native or deeply assimilated affixes; calque translation of abbreviations and acronyms; full transliteration/transcription. The lexicon of the Kazakh and Russian segments of the bilingual dictionary of military-aviation terminology was analyzed on the subject of original words and borrowings. 3223 (65 %) Russian words and 1751 (35 %) phonographic internationalisms were identified in the Russian segment of the dictionary against 4920 (82 %) Kazakh words and 1032 (17 %) internationalisms in Kazakh. The example comes to prove that the degree of forenization of the Russian terminology is significantly higher than that of the Kazakh one. Problems of the development of Kazakh science and professional communication sub-languages in high-tech areas (aviation) are constated. The main obstacle that calls into question the expediency of the korenization of professional communication is the limitation of the functioning of sub-languages by the borders of the Republic of Kazakhstan. There is also a problem with the selection of national equivalent words denoting new technologies or concepts; code switching in the communication of multilingual specialists; duration of standards development for terminology use and translation, their coordination with practice; high costs when introducing new terms and professional cliches, retraining personnel, changing documentation and information systems, etc.