post-Soviet Research Articles

Normative-legal regulation of the renaming of settlements as a component of the decommunization process in Ukraine

Research dedicated to the analysis of normative- legal regulation of the renaming of populated places as part of the decommunization process in Ukraine. In the context of post-Soviet space, rethinking historical names and symbols is a crucial step in defining a new national direction and shaping the country's modern image. Relevance. The implementation of decommunization and reconsideration of geographical and cultural aspects becomes a pressing task for the country aiming to integrate into the European community on the global stage. The normative regulation of renaming populated places is determined by a series of legislative acts and requires careful study. The purpose of the study is to analyze the normative- legal support of the process of renaming populated places in the context of decommunization. Studying the legal framework will contribute to understanding the process of changing the names of populated places as a tool to influence cultural memory and shape national identity. The research is based on a complex of methods, including the analysis of normative-legal acts, comparative analysis of domestic and international experience in renaming populated places, and the study of public reaction to changes in the names of populated places. The results of the study allow determining the effectiveness and feasibility of the process of reconsideration and renaming of populated places within the decommunization strategy. This research reveals key aspects and nuances of legal regulation of this process in the Ukrainian context. The study's conclusions point to the need for further development and clarification of normative-legal regulation of the process of renaming populatedplaces, taking into account the historical, cultural, and social peculiarities of Ukraine. The proposals developed within the study can serve as a basis for further legislative initiatives in this direction.

State survival vs leaders’ survival: how ethnic conflicts affect a state’s international alignment behavior?

ABSTRACT This article examines the underlying factors contributing to a more strategic and rational alignment behaviour exhibited by certain post-Soviet states compared to others in the region and beyond, despite the high stakes of domestic politics. Specifically, it focuses on Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Moldova, suggesting their consistent, state-centric foreign policies arise from facing protracted ethnic conflicts threatening their territorial integrity. The notion of differential survival risks is proposed to explain this phenomenon. Consequently, resolving these conflicts becomes the paramount concern for these states’ leadership to avoid substantial territorial losses or even loss of sovereignty, relegating domestic issues to a secondary status.

Genesis of the development of liability for encroachment on archaeological heritage sites: the Soviet period (1917–1991)

The article is devoted to the study of the Soviet period of development of liability for encroachment on archaeological heritage sites. The main legal acts inherent in this period are identified.
 Having studied the peculiarities of the Soviet period, the author establishes that during the existence of the Soviet State the regulation of liability for trespass to cultural property, cultural and archaeological heritage has undergone significant changes, and as a result, this period can be divided into two stages.
 The first stage is characterized by the fact that cultural property ceases to be the subject of special protection, being the subject of a crime, it is subject to protection by criminal law in the general order, if it falls under their scope. The legislative field is dominated by contradictory, ideologically aligned legal acts. Thus, the Criminal Code of the Ukrainian SSR of 1922 was characterized by weak legal protection of cultural property. In addition, the lack of regulation of other types of encroachments on cultural property, such as theft, destruction or damage, etc. was a gap in the criminal legislation of the Ukrainian SSR. The subsequent Criminal Code of the Ukrainian SSR of 1927 contained only one provision protecting historical and cultural monuments from criminal attacks. It established liability for concealing collections and monuments of antiquity and art subject to registration, accounting, or transfer to state storage facilities.
 At the second stage (from the mid-1940s), the state and society gradually realized the public danger of encroachments on cultural property. Legislation was updated, and responsibility for the destruction or damage of historical and cultural monuments was introduced and gradually increased. The Criminal Code of the Ukrainian SSR of 1960, on the one hand, abolished such a crime as concealment of collections and monuments of antiquity and art and archival materials subject to registration, accounting or transfer to state repositories, and on the other hand, introduced liability for the destruction or damage of cultural monuments. In 1983, the range of objects that could be encroached upon under Article 207 of the Criminal Code of the Ukrainian SSR was expanded. In 1991, the Law of the USSR «On Criminal and Administrative Liability for Violation of Legislation on the Protection and Use of Historical and Cultural Monuments» was adopted, which established criminal liability for the following criminal acts: intentional destruction, destruction or damage to historical and cultural monuments (para. 1, Art. 1; intentional destruction, destruction or damage to historical and cultural monuments committed repeatedly or causing grave consequences (para. 2, Art. 1); desecration of a historical and cultural monument committed with exceptional cynicism (Art. 3); desecration of a historical and cultural monument without the signs provided for in Article 3 (Art. 5). The above provisions were to be incorporated into the criminal and administrative codes of the union republics. However, the legislator did not introduce the relevant amendments to the Criminal Code of the Ukrainian SSR.

Mapping Research on English as a Second or Foreign Language in Post-Soviet Countries: A Bibliometric Analysis

This study uncovers the development and structure of the research on English as a second or foreign language in post-Soviet countries. In total, 500 publications from the Web of Science database were analyzed. The findings revealed that the authors involved tend to cross borders in co-authorship publications. There is a small exchange of collaboration between researchers in the context of establishing cooperation between topics of linguistics, approaches to teaching, and learning and digital technologies.

Attitudes of Labor Migrants from Central Asia to International Integration Organizations in the Post-Soviet Space

The article presents the results of a sociological empirical study that was conducted from May to August in 2023. Its purpose was to study the attitudes of labor migrants in Russia towards various international integration processes in the post-Soviet space. The objects of the study were workers from Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan, working in Moscow and the Moscow region. The choice of these countries is not accidental, as they are the main migration donors to the Russian Federation in Central Asia. The uniqueness of the research results lies in the fact that despite the certain “popularity” of such an empirical object as “labor migrants.” The analyzed subject has not yet been sufficiently developed theoretically and empirically. Particular attention is paid to the political preferences and migration attitudes of labor migrants. The issue of awareness of foreign workers of the activities of international integration and military-political associations, such as the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU), the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), European Union (EU), the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) and also the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) is examined. The paper also presents the respondents’ assessment of the role of these associations in the development of international processes. Separately, the article examines the relationship between Russia and migrant-sending countries. Based on the results of the study, the authors conclude that respondents have a positive attitude towards integration associations in which Russia plays a key role. Moreover, the socio-political attitudes of foreign workers are characterized by a high degree of loyalty to the foreign policy of the Russian Federation. Migrants overwhelmingly support international cooperation between their countries and Russia and share the foreign policy position of the Russian Federation. In conclusion, labor migrants from Central Asia can be considered as a resource and capital of the influence of Russian “soft power.”

The Impact of the Soviet Heritage on Women’s Political Leadership in Modern Russia

The study analyzes the specifics of women’s political leadership in the USSR and identifies the factors that predetermined the secondary role of women in Soviet, and later modern Russian politics. The purpose of this study is to identify the features of women’s activities as political leaders in the Soviet state and compare them with the features of women’s participation in political power in modern Russia. To achieve the goal, historical-chronological and comparative analysis are used as research methods. The unique experience of the women’s departments is considered in detail, as well as the personal factor of Soviet women leaders as the reason for political success. It is concluded that during the entire existence of the Soviet Union, the parity ratio of men and women at any level of power was not achieved even despite attempts to introduce various measures, such as a quota system, to achieve this goal. However, among the reasons for this situation, it was highlighted that attempts to achieve gender parity in government were primarily ideological in nature and aimed not at achieving real equality, but at demonstrating the ideology of the USSR on the world stage. The presence of women in the highest government positions in the USSR was an extremely rare phenomenon, since, in order to meet practical needs, the state, as a rule, preferred to involve women in politics at the lowest levels of the political hierarchy. A comparative analysis of women’s political leadership in the Soviet period with the present has shown that the same trend persists in modern Russia.

Tuvan Family Photo Album: Social Practices of Creation and Storage

The authors analyze the social practices of creating and storing a Tuvan family photo album throughout the XX - early XXI century. The sources of the study are the materials of narrative biographical interviews with ten respondents - indigenous residents of Tuva of different ages which were recorded by the authors in April - May 2023. The appearance of photo albums, the features of their creation and storage reflect the general history of photo albums in the Soviet state, and now in Russia. The authors point out that in the history of photo albums there appear the Tuvan traditions, for example, in photo frames inside the yurt there are photographs of relatives, domestic animals (horses), and elements of national cuisine. But due to the events of the XX century, the issue of loss and theft of photographs and photo albums became relevant for Tuvans. In the XXI century, Tuvans have a wide variety of photo albums on different media, and today family photo albums also represent the ethnicity of people.

Inclusion and Inclusive Education in Russia: Analysis of Legislative and Strategic Documents at the State Level between 2012–2014

Inclusive education is an important foundation of many societies, including the post-Soviet countries. It has been more than ten years since the official implementation of inclusion in Russia. However, the inclusive education system has not developed enough to be equally supported everywhere throughout the country, and is marked by controversial views on legal regulation and inclusive strategies. The purpose of this article is to examine inclusion and inclusive education, mainly for students with special educational needs, as understood in the educational policy. The data consist of legislative and strategic documents on the state level between 2012 to 2014. The data analysis was based on a qualitative content analysis. The analysis indicated two main themes: the subtle expression and lack of a definition for inclusion, and an inconsistent expression and definition of inclusive education. The results point to the necessity of encouraging discussions as well as reflections with respect to articulating and defining what inclusion is and how Russia can create an effective strategy for the further development of inclusive education.

Latinization of the Language Under the Leadership of Turkey as a Tool for the Formation of a New Identity for the Turkic Post-Soviet States

The study examines the issue of creating a common Turkic alphabet through the prism of Turkey’s interests in its attempts to form a new identity for the Turkic states. It is noted that the collapse of the Soviet Union and the formation of five new Turkic states were positively received in Turkey and gave impetus to the activation of pan-Turkic ideas. Thus, one of the aspects of Ankara’s humanitarian interaction with the newly formed countries was cooperation within the framework of linguistic reforms, where Turkey actively advocated for the Latinization of the alphabet of the Turkic states. The authors analyze the phenomenon of language in constructing the identity of states. Turkey, which has experience in radical linguistic reforms, recognizes the potential of such transformations in the Turkic space. Ankara seeks to lead this process in order to promote its own logics and narratives, which should ultimately lead to the adoption of the Turkish language as a single language for the Turks. It is noted that with the reformatting of the Organization of Turkic States (OTS), there has been a tendency to return to the agenda of discussions of a single alphabet for the Turkic peoples. Ankara promotes this topic at expert seminars, CTG meetings, etc. It is concluded that Turkey’s strategy is aimed at the long term and the lack of quick results in this area does not indicate its failure. Ankara systematically takes up the entire spectrum of interaction with Turkic partners, creating the foundation for future integration.

Jewish Community of Irkutsk in 1917 - the Late 1930s

The authors examine the history of the early Soviet period (1917 - late 1930s) of the Jewish community of Irkutsk, which by the beginning of the 20th century was the largest Jewish community in Siberia. The fate of the main choral synagogue, three houses of worship and rabbis. The source base for the study consisted of documents from the State Archives of the Russian Federation and the State Archives of the Irkutsk Region. The study also contains an analysis of legislative acts of the Soviet government, materials from periodicals published in Irkutsk. The authors came to the conclusion that the policy of the Soviet state in the field of religion led to fundamental changes in the situation of the Jewish community of Irkutsk. Its existence in the early Soviet period was fraught with numerous difficulties. It was at this time that the Jewish community of Irkutsk lost all movable and immovable property that previously belonged to it. At the same time, all Jewish organizations in the city were liquidated, and in 1939 the community finally ceased to exist.

Covid-19 Mortality Shock: Demographic and Economic Losses in Moldova

Abstract This contribution discusses the problem of Covid-19 demographic and economic losses in Moldova. Although the pandemic is now no longer in the headlines, it is essential to understand how severe it was in Southeastern Europe. To illustrate this, the present study uses the example of the Republic of Moldova as a country with relatively high excess mortality. The Covid-19 mortality pattern in Moldova appears typical for the Eastern European and post-Soviet countries, with a decline in life expectancy for 2020–2021 and a more substantial decline for women. One of the main explanations for this pattern is the failure of the vaccination campaign, partly due to the population’s lack of trust in the healthcare system. The National Transfer Accounts approach is suggested to estimate economic losses. As a reference country for comparing the pandemic losses in Moldova, the present study uses Serbia, which was also strongly affected by the pandemic.

Правовые вопросы экономической безопасности Российской Федерации как члена ЕАЭС

The article examines the legal framework and potential possibilities of integration processes in the post-Soviet space, as well as the place and role of the Russian Federation in Eurasian international organizations. The Russian Federation is considered as an active participant in protecting the interests of business development in the space of interstate associations. In this regard, the prospects for development and ways to implement the formation of a favorable economic climate for small and medium-sized businesses in the common integration space are analyzed.

FROM THE HISTORY OF IMPLEMENTATION OF THE DISCIPLINE «THE HISTORY OF UKRAINE» IN UNIVERSITIES OF THE USSR IN THE 1930S: METHODOLOGICAL ASPECT

The article examines the evolution of Soviet state policy in the field of higher historical education in the Ukrainian SSR in the 1930s on the basis of a previously unpublished archival document introduced into scientific circulation for the first time. On the basis of archival and published sources, the political, social and methodological conditions for the introduction of the discipline “History of Ukraine” are presented in the higher school of the Ukrainian SSR. The influence of the dynamics of the political development of the state on the theory and practice of studying the history of Ukraine is demonstrated. The ideological, political and methodological reasons that led to the introduction of the history of Ukraine as a special course are analyzed. The historical subjects of the discipline «The History of Ukraine” were primarily designed to illustrate the political, social and economic phenomena of the past for the benefit of the current modern events of the young socialist state. The main attention is paid to the consideration and analysis of the methodical aspect of the implemented discipline. The process of restoration of traditional forms and methods of teaching the historical discipline in universities was followed, which was accompanied by an increase in the role of the teacher in the educational process. The measures of the party-state leadership aimed at introducing the discipline «The History of Ukraine” in higher historical education are traced. It is noted that as a result of the long-term work of a large team of scientists, a curriculum was developed, which became a historical narrative in which the official position of the authorities on the main issues of national history was recorded, and at the same time an official reference point for scientists, teachers, educators, political workers, cultural figures. The documentary supplement contains the program on the history of Ukraine for the first year of teachers’ institutes for the summer session of 1938, the level of representativeness and archeographic elaboration of which is quite high, which in total significantly increases the scientific level of the factual basis of the conducted research.

SUCCESSFUL EXPERIENCE IN THE TREATMENT OF NEUROBRUCELLOSIS IN KAZAKHSTAN

Brucellosis is a zoonotic infection and therefore an important public health problem in the world. More than 0.5 million cases of brucellosis in humans are registered annually. Endemic areas for brucellosis include countries with developed animal husbandry. Kazakhstan is among the twenty-five countries with the highest incidence of brucellosis. Among the post-Soviet countries, Kazakhstan ranks second after Kyrgyzstan in the incidence of brucellosis. In recent years, 2500-3500 cases of human disease have been registered annually in the country, of which about 600 are children under the age of 14. The problem of brucellosis in Kazakhstan is caused by the agricultural orientation and prevalence of small cattle, which is the carrier of the most pathogenic Brucella melitensis. 42.2% of Kazakhstanis live in rural areas, and their main income is animal care. More than 85% of human brucellosis cases have been registered in 4 southern regions where animal husbandry (sheep breeding) is developed. Despite the long history of campaigns to combat brucellosis, Kazakhstan has not overcome this threat to public health. Brucellosis can affect many organs and systems. Complications of brucellosis are usually about 30 percent. Neurological damage occurs in up to 10% of cases. Manifestations include meningitis (acute or chronic), encephalitis, brain abscess, myelitis, sciatica and/or neuritis (with damage to cranial or peripheral nerves). The article presents rare clinical cases of neurobrucellosis on the background of concomitant diseases.

Statebuilding and the Modernisation of Welfare Governance in Russia

ABSTRACT This article examines challenges for effective statebuilding in relation to welfare governance in Russia. The focus is the contested role of non-state commercial actors in outsourcing reforms of welfare for older people. The findings suggest that authorities recognise the necessity of reforming the welfare system and its governance in line with international principles but face challenges for developing an effective mixed economy of care while bolstering statebuilding in the post-Soviet context. The article draws critical attention to the role of healthcare reform in statebuilding efforts and draws inferences for the public health governance and statebuilding nexus in a post-Soviet country.

"What's Love Got to Do": Tracing Violence Against Post-Soviet Women in Cross-Border Marriages

Women in cross-border marriages are at a heightened risk of experiencing domestic violence, as they areparticularly traumatised by the experience of migration, which undermines their capacity for independentaction, and they are more vulnerable at the intersections of status, ethnicity, employment, and income. Usingthe theoretical framework of narrative victimology, in-depth semi-structured interviews were conducted withfive women from post-Soviet countries (Ukraine and Belarus) who were married to Israeli Arab Muslims.This study examines the experience of victimisation and spousal abuse among Slavic Christian women fromthe FSU married to Arab Muslims in Israel. The narratives of the women confirmed that cross-border spousesare susceptible to domestic abuse and intimate partner violence. The constellation of a cross-border familycombines the external risk factors, such as the trauma of migration and the loss of socio-economic stability,the cultural factors associated with the patriarchal nature of Arab society and the tolerance of wife-beating,and the individual man's need to maintain control through the use of coercion and violence. Isolation, as anatural consequence of immigration and as a coercive technique used by an abuser, operates together,intensifying the experience of abuse and preventing the woman from reaching out for help. Pregnancy andchildbearing constituted a particular risk factor for perpetrating abuse against cross-border wives bydebilitating the woman and further preventing her from leaving the abusive marriage.

Towards Social Justice: Investigating the Role of Labor, Globalization, and Governance in Reducing Socio-Economic Inequality within Post-Communist Countries

In the midst of contemporary global challenges, including the repercussions of the pandemic, geopolitical conflicts, and transitional shifts, a notable surge in attention toward income inequality has materialized, garnering significant focus from both national and international entities. The urgency surrounding this issue is amplified by the imperative need for economic sustainability, recognizing poverty and inequalities as fundamental global security threats. Particularly within Europe, the persistent disparities in living standards, evident across and within countries, serve as potent indicators of enduring poverty and inequality. These concerns underscore potential barriers to the European Union’s pursuit of convergence and cohesion, aligning with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which prioritize addressing poverty (SDG 1) and reducing inequalities (SDG 10) for sustainable development. This study aims to scrutinize the dynamics of income inequality, concentrating on post-communist countries in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE). Employing panel data analysis, the research identifies and tests variables influencing income inequality in the region, specifically emphasizing labor market structures, globalization, economic development, and governance mechanisms, which hold particular relevance for the region’s context. The primary findings underscore the potential impact of enhancing these sectors in mitigating income inequality within the specified region. These insights provide a foundation for informed policy-making, presenting opportunities to address and mitigate inequalities effectively. They pave the way for fostering pathways toward greater equality and equitable socio-economic development within post-communist nations, ensuring a more inclusive and sustainable future.

Правопреемство Россией Союза ССР: конституционно-правовые основы и принцип функционирования публичной власти

The article deals with the constitutional foundations of Russia’s succession to the USSR. The author notes that such succession can be considered in three aspects: as recognition by modern Russia of the legal acts of the USSR and its obligations; as a principle of the functioning of public authority and as the succession of the constitutional values of the Soviet state. Among the current constitutional values of the Soviet state are: social rights; a model of democracy based on the union of the peoples of Russia, public discussions, traditional values of Russian society. All this determines the conservative function of the Russian Constitution, which replaced the liberal function, which is also seen as a succession with the Soviet state. It is concluded that the basic principle of the functioning of public authority is the indicated succession, the content of which is the identification of modern Russia with the Soviet state as the bearer of its legal acts and values. At the same time, the successful development of the domestic state can be built on the best achievements of the Soviet system.

Are You Our Sisters? Resistance, Belonging, and Recognition in Israeli Reform Jewish Female Converts

The religious conversion process is a significant expression of an individual’s intention to gain a new religious identity and be included in a particular religious community. Those who wish to join the Jewish people undergo giyur (conversion), which includes observing rituals and religious practices. While previous research on Jewish conversions in Israel focused on the experiences of persons who converted under Orthodox auspices, this study analyzes the experiences of female immigrants from the former Soviet Union (FSU) and the Philippines who chose to convert through the Reform Movement in Israel. Based on qualitative research, we discovered that the non-Orthodox process, which is based on liberal values, not only grants converts under the aegis of Reform entry to the Jewish people, but promotes their affiliation with the Reform Movement and advances their acculturation into Jewish Israeli society. Their choice is a political decision, an act of resistance against an Orthodox Israeli religious monopoly, and an expression of spiritual motivations. The converts become social agents who strengthen the Reform Movement’s socio-political position in Israel, where it struggles against discrimination. Furthermore, since most converts are women, new intersections between religion, gender, and nationality are exposed.

Images of the Industrial Frontier in the Context of the Energetics’ Development in Eastern Siberia

The article focuses on the images of the industrial frontier in the context of hydropower development in Eastern Siberia during the Soviet period. Despite the rich experience domestic researchers have accumulated, they have overlooked several aspects of Eastern Siberia’s industrial development. The article explores these images as depicted in Soviet literature, journalism, poetry, and fine art from the various periods. These depictions include the study and construction of the Angara and Yenisei cascade of hydroelectric power plants, reflecting the Soviet state’s ideological attitudes.
 The authors conclude that the images of the industrial frontier, while varying in character, shared many common features across different periods. Furthermore, the Soviet leadership used the creation of these multiple images to solve several important national tasks. These tasks ranged from attracting labor resources to Siberian construction sites to fully integrating the East Siberian region into the life of the Soviet state and society.
 Teachers and students interested in the industrial development of Eastern Siberia in the twentieth century will find the article relevant.