Russian Studies Research Articles

ARCTIC VECTOR OF GERMAN FOREIGN POLICY

Research Objective. The Arctic is a unique region of our planet, one that affects not only the climate, ocean currents, and weather but also geopolitics and the economy. Various international actors vie for influence in the Arctic region, seeking to maintain a balance through international agreements and intergovernmental cooperation. This article provides a brief overview of the Arctic region. It observes the interests of Arctic states and Arctic Council Observers. The main focus is on Germany's Arctic policy as an Arctic Council Observer. The article gives a brief historical overview of Germany's Arctic policy. The transformation of Germany's position regarding the Arctic, as well as the formulation of a national Arctic strategy, is revealed through an examination of inter-party discussions in the German government. The article investigates Germany's current Arctic policy and an overall German strategy in the Arctic region. Additionally, the ecological and scientific research strategies of Germany in the Arctic region are detailed. Furthermore, the article explores Germany's national interests in the Arctic region. The methodological basis of the article is formed by the studies of Russian and foreign researchers. The paper uses general scientific research methods (analysis, synthesis, classification, comparison). Empirical data used in the work are taken from open sources. Conclusions. The described tendencies and contradictions of German and international policy towards the Arctic indicate still unformed ways and instruments to ensure a coherent policy in the Arctic region. Further research and the development of an international Arctic strategy that can satisfy national interests and meet the individual priorities of each state interested in the Arctic is needed.

Заболеваемость и распространенность легочной артериальной гипертензии, ассоциированной с системной красной волчанкой. Систематический обзор

Relevance. Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a rare complication of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Due to the nonspecificity of symptoms and difficulties in diagnosis, the exact incidence and prevalence of PAH associated with SLE is unknown. Aim. A systematic review of studies assessing the incidence and prevalence of PAH associated with SLE. Material and methods. A systematic search was performed for studies investigating the incidence and prevalence of PAH associated with SLE published from January 1, 2000 to December 31, 2023. The search was carried out in the PubMed/MEDLINE database for English-language publications and in the RSCI database for studies in Russian according to pre-defined inclusion and exclusion criteria. Results. 53 potential publications were identified, all sources in English. 11 publications remained for further assessment after screening article titles and abstracts. After detailed analysis, 6 articles were excluded because they did not meet the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Totally, 5 studies were included in the systematic review. Three studies assessed prevalence only, one study assessed incidence only, and one study assessed both prevalence and incidence. The prevalence of PAH associated with SLE ranged from 0 to 4.2%, with 3-year and 5-year cumulative incidence rates of 0.53–1.2% and 0.77–1.8%, respectively.

The Study of Jadidism in Soviet and Russian Historiography

The article provides an overview of the history of the study of Muslim reformism, known in the scientific literature as Jadidism, in the works of Soviet and Russian researchers. At first, it included only the reform of Islamic education, and later it began to be understood as a broader movement of “Muslim enlightenment” aimed at reforming the entire Muslim society. The study of the history of Jadidism in Russia began in the 1920s. Soviet scientists through the prism of the Marxist theory of the development of socio- economic formations. In the post-war years, Soviet historians and social scientists wrote critically about Jadidism. During the years of Khrushchev’s “thaw”, scholars tried to reconsider the essence of Jadidism in the socialist context of historical research through the reinterpretation of Islam as a specific Tatar national cultural heritage, called “mirasism”. A new stage of Russian historiography in matters of Jadidism began in the post- Soviet period, when Jadidism began to be seen as a social movement of Russian Muslims aimed at forming a nation of the European type. In general, it can be said that studies in Russian and Soviet historiography on the history of Jadidism in the Crimea, the Volga-Ural region, Central Asia and the Caucasus are distinguished by different methodologies and conceptual approaches, while works on the history of the Jadid movement in the Volga-Ural region are more complete. Despite the fact that there is no common understanding of the phenomenon of Jadidism in the Volga-Ural region, nevertheless, scientists of different directions (historians, philologists, Islamic scholars) have done a lot of work in studying this issue. In this regard, the history of Muslim reformism in the North Caucasus, in particular in Dagestan, is practically not studied. As well as there is no special work on this region.

Процессы когнитивного контроля в тесте Струпа и их отражение в связанных с событиями потенциалах (обзор)

The review summarizes the data of Russian and foreign studies on the psychophysiological parameters of the Stroop task execution. In addition, the article considers the main modifications of the task and similar paradigms as well as the key hypotheses explaining the causes of the interference effect and the increase in reaction time to stimuli containing conflicting information. Further, the paper presents data on eventrelated potential (ERP) waves, which are supposed to reflect cognitive control processes, such as conflict detection, overcoming of interference and conflict resolution. The frontocentral N2 wave characterizes the processes of conflict detection and overcoming of interference, and its main neural generator is the anterior cingulate cortex. The N450 wave is primarily generated in the anterior cingulate cortex and prefrontal cortex and is thought to reflect interference suppression. The centroparietal P300 wave and the late positive complex, which appears to be generated in the middle or inferior frontal gyrus and in the extrastriate cortex, are associated with the conflict resolution process. The readiness potential is, supposedly, generated in the motor cortex and reflects the process of selecting and preparing a motor response. Moreover, the review presents the main directions of studies that use the Stroop test paradigm and its modifications. Despite a significant number of existing psychophysical and neurophysiological papers, the question of the brain mechanisms of cognitive control in tasks that cause cognitive conflict remains open, and the neuropsychological role of the ERP waves recorded in such tasks is still not fully explored. Studies into the influence of different types of competing information and the degree of conflict on the psychophysiological indicators in the Stroop task are of considerable interest.

Shmal’tsovniki: Bounty Hunters in World War II Galicia, 1941–1944

Abstract Among the most notorious forms of collaboration with the German occupation of District Galicia were the so-called shmal’tsovniki (szmalcownicy) or marodëry (profiteers), bounty hunters who betrayed Jews to the German police for cash rewards, apartments, food, and a host of other incentives. In this study of post-Soviet Russian, Ukrainian, German, Israeli, and Polish sources, the author has traced the nefarious roles these local collaborators played in the Holocaust. He has endeavored to outline the political economy of genocide in Galicia, tracing the transformation of relations among neighbors into a predatory hunt for Jewish men, women, and children who had been driven into hiding to escape persecution and genocide. Archival documents and eyewitness testimonies reveal that bounty hunters preyed not just on Jews, but also on so-called Righteous Gentiles, typically well-meaning Poles or Ukrainians whose acts of kindness were sometimes turned against them in the morally inverted world of the German occupation. In this way, the German occupation authorities generated a mass culture of fear and suspicion that facilitated the rounding up and liquidation of remaining Jews.

Implementation of the Energy Justice Concept in Strategies and Projects of Foreign Energy Companies

Introduction. The given article examines the challenges of ensuring energy justice in business models of energy companies. It identifies ways in which organizations and businesses providing energy services locally, regionally and internationally can successfully integrate social justice values into business strategies, ensuring that their operations are aligned with the principles of equitable provision of energy services.Materials and methods. Materials used for the given research include foreign and Russian studies on energy justice issues, statistical data and news sources from the world media. The methodological basis consists of such scientific methods as qualitative and quantitative analysis, synthesis, comparative research and statistical analysis.Results of the study. Analysis of the activities of foreign energy companies suggests that energy justice is a highly effective “tool” not only from the point of view of conceptualizing the theoretical idea of an energy just world and effectively analyzing a wide range of energy-related issues, but can also be considered as a valuable contribution to the actual process of developing energy policy and a framework for assessing the sustainability of energy-related projects and initiatives. The concept of a public interest company based on the principles of energy and social justice can be defined as a set of guidelines aimed at transforming existing business practices to ensure that these practices are consistent with the principles of energy justice.Discussion and conclusions. The given re­search revealed that the degree of adherence to energy justice principles determines whether certain business practices or specific projects are consistent with its paradigm. At the same time, as evidenced by available scientific research on this issue, commercial activity and the creation of social and environmental values are not internally contradictory concepts. On the contrary, energy justice guidelines and aspects can be successfully integrated into various business models at local, subnational, regional and global levels.

Responding to crises in authoritarian environments: Russian think tanks between policy evaluation and state endorsement

AbstractIn the literature on policy advice and analytical communities in democratic settings, think tanks are often assumed to be carriers of new ideas that serve as an informed and independent voice in policy debates. However, how much intellectual independence do think tanks have in authoritarian environments? This article tackles this question in a case study of Russian think tanks' discursive responses to two protracted crises: the COVID‐19 pandemic and climate change. The study employs a combination of deductive and inductive techniques to identify the discursive strategies used by think tank experts in their publications covering the crises. The findings suggest that there are differences in how think tanks communicate crises, which can be attributed to their institutional structures and position vis‐à‐vis the state. In some cases, the think tanks resort to polarization and discreditation of Western governments' crisis response, while openly endorsing the Russian state. In other cases, they engage in rationalization and more neutral analyses of the pandemic and climate change. However, regardless of these differences, they rarely concentrate on domestic challenges. Instead, they geopoliticize the crises, overemphasizing problematic developments elsewhere in the world, thus shifting attention in the public discourse away from domestic emergencies.

Confederation of Sahel States — a new integration alliance of the countries of «global South» (legal aspects)

The article explores the legal nature and features of the Confederation of Sahel States, the youngest integration alliance in Africa and around the world, established on July 6, 2024 between Burkina Faso, the Republic of Mali and the Republic of Niger. The introductory section outlines the past, present and problems of legal regulation of integration processes in Africa, as well as its modern projects preceding the Confederation. After considering the reasons for the establishment of Confederation and procedural aspects (section «Historical and geographical origins»), the author scrutinizes its constituent documents, the legal status of its Member States, its organizational mechanism and competence (section «Legal status»). Finally, in accordance with the provisions of domestic and foreign legal doctrine, the experience of former confederal entities, the author presets conclusions together with his vision of future of the newborn Confederation. The article is the first in Russian legal science study of the Confederation of Sahel States in light of the global legal experience with respect to establishment and operation of such entities. The author agrees with the prevailing view of confederations as not quite effective form of unification of states due to the lack of a full-fledged system of central authorities. Nevertheless, the author insists that confederal structure might be attractive in several ways. This explains the fact that confederations are still in use in XXI century. With reference to documents, the author demonstrates that law and practice of historical confederations, now federations (USA, etc.), were not limited to foreign policy and defence, but also covered significant domestic policy measures. Therefore, in practical terms, the author advises the Confederation of Sahel States to focus on «development» issues (economic, scientific, technological, etc.), which, according to its constituent documents, form part its competence together with issues of «diplomacy», «defence and security».

Analysis of foreign and Russian approaches to the study of personal patriotism

The subject of the study is patriotism. The author conducted a theoretical analysis of domestic and foreign scientific literature on the problem of patriotism. The features of approaches to the study of this phenomenon in the framework of philosophical, sociological, historical, psychological, pedagogical and psychological disciplines are considered in detail. A comparative analysis of the theoretical views of foreign and domestic authors on the content and nature of patriotism is carried out. An analysis of the literature allows us to conclude that Western and Russian studies of patriotism have many connotations, especially in the sociological and political sciences. Western and domestic scientists have identified similar essential signs of patriotism: patriotism as one of the highest feelings, as a creative feeling; patriotism as selfless work for the benefit of one's country, as a manifestation of higher feelings in action, as a duty to the country; patriotism as a deeply social phenomenon, as a civic virtue. The author conducts a comparative theoretical analysis of foreign and domestic approaches to the study of the problem of patriotism, understanding the psychological nature of this phenomenon. The main conclusions of the study are: in the studies of foreign scientists, patriotism is analyzed in the context of national and social issues and is practically not studied as a personal education, property or quality; at the heart of patriotism, most foreign authors note identification with their country based on feelings of love, pride and shame. In the West, patriotism is seen as a phenomenon of political awareness, quite closely related to nationalism. In Russian literature, such essential signs of patriotism as statehood and personality, which is the main subject of patriotism, are noted. The differences in the interpretation of the concept of "patriotism" and in approaches to its research can be explained by fundamental differences in culture and state and political traditions. In turn, the intersections in the definition of patriotism indicate that this phenomenon has certain interethnic and interstate features. The question of studying remains open and quite relevant.

Russian-Eastern Intersections. A Venetian ‘Anomaly’

This article is devoted to the research of a group of scholars from Ca’ Foscari University of Venice who over the course of several decades – especially starting from the 1970s, and partly up to now – have studied the cultural and political relationships between Russia and Asia. Some of these scholars were specialists in Russian studies, others came from orientalist disciplines (in particular Iranian and Turkish studies), but showed an in-depth interest – also based on acquaintance with the language – in Russia and the Soviet Union. Their research has produced a large number of publications, of a predominantly literary and historical nature, which constitute an important contribution to the knowledge of Russian-Eastern interactions, with particular reference to the Caucasus, but also to Central Asia, Crimea and the Volga region. Some aspects of this ‘Venetian school’ of Russian-Asian studies can be very useful, albeit counter-current, for present-day research on the Russian, Soviet and post-Soviet area.

Thirty Years of Studies on Russian Emigration to Italy

In the last thirty years, studies dedicated to Russian emigration have experienced significant growth. The fall of the Berlin Wall first, and later the collapse of the USSR, allowed scholars to freely access archives, describe and reconstruct the phenomenon from qualitative and quantitative perspectives, and form research groups and networks both nationally and internationally. This article focuses on Italian studies dedicated to Russian emigration in Italy, which, over the past thirty years, have also seen a notable flourishing thanks to the contributions of individual researchers and research groups. Russian studies in Italy have thus aligned with similar initiatives in other countries, developing international projects and research lines in various fields.

Дореволюционная женская литература в России и Китае

The aim of the research is to identify similarities and differences in women’s literature in Russia and China during the pre-revolutionary period (up to 1917 and 1911 respectively) through a comparative analysis. The scientific novelty of the research lies in the fact that although there is a significant amount of works in Russian and Chinese literary studies dedicated to the phenomenon of women’s literature, these works mainly focus on the 20th and 21st centuries. Scholars have not paid sufficient attention to the study of women’s literature during the pre-revolutionary period. In addition, a comparative analysis of common features and differences between Russian and Chinese women’s literature in modern literary studies has not been thoroughly explored. As a result, the research indicates that the similarities between Russian and Chinese women’s literature during the pre-revolutionary period manifest themselves in the following aspects: the socio-cultural conditions of the formation and development of women’s creative work (unfavorable conditions), the social background of female authors (privileged classes), the predominant genre (poetry), themes (women’s issues), the literary image (women), and the characteristic features of women’s literature during the specified period (introverted thinking, autobiographism, and introspection). Additionally, the results confirm differences in the following aspects: forms of women’s participation in the literary process, the level of openness to cultural activities among female authors, the process of professionalization of literary work, and the influence of foreign culture.

The educational text in integrative teaching of Russian as a native language in schools of Kazakhstan

Relevance. Language teaching in schools of the Republic of Kazakhstan (RK) is implemented considering all current trends and includes the use of innovative methods. Special attention in the process of language education in schools of the Republic of Kazakhstan is paid to the study of Kazakh, English, and Russian languages.Purpose. The purpose is to conduct an investigation on the linguodidactic possibilities of integrated learning among students in educational institutions with Russian as the language of instruction and to assess the effectiveness of the author�s integrated course in teaching the Russian language as a native language.Methodology. To achieve this goal, methods of analysis and synthesis, comparison, observing the educational process, and a specially developed author�s experimental programme of integrative teaching of the Russian language in communication lessons were used.Results. The study describes the linguodidactic possibilities of integrative teaching of the Russian language in the conditions of updating the content of school education in the Republic of Kazakhstan. The possibilities of the educational text in teaching Russian as a native language are described. An attempt is made to identify the educational potential of the educational text as an integrative category. A study was conducted among tenth-grade students of the Municipal State Institution �Secondary School No. 125� of Almaty, which demonstrated the effectiveness of the developed experimental programme of integrative learning. Examples of specific tasks from the tested experimental programme are given and their effectiveness is determined. The views of teachers and schoolchildren on the approved programme and its effectiveness are identified.Conclusions. The results can be used by teachers of the Russian language in schools of the Republic of Kazakhstan to improve the quality of the educational process, by the management of educational institutions when compiling a school educational programme and introducing integrative courses into it.

Transformation of secondary vocational education in the context of technological changes

Introduction. Modern socio-economic realities associated with a new technological transition necessitate serious structural and substantive changes in the system of vocational education and training. In the 21st century, most countries of the world have faced increasing problems of inconsistency of the structure of modern vocational education with the new technological order and changing personnel demands of the economy. The problems are particularly acute in the Russian system of secondary vocational education, which has been in the mode of reform since the mid-90s of the last century and is designed to play a major role in professional self-determination and the formation of youth.Purpose setting. The objectives of the article are to analyze trends and factors that determine the need for status, structural and substantive changes in the Russian system of vocational education and training.Methodology and methods of the study. The theoretical and methodological basis of the study was the theory of continuing professional education (A. M. Novikov), integrative theory of multilevel continuing professional education (A. P. Belyaeva), professionology (E. F. Zeer), skills of the 21st century (A. J. Rotherham, D. Willingham). Methods of comparative and retrospective analysis of statistical data of Russian and international studies, content analysis of websites of secondary vocational education institutions were used in the work.Results. The results of the study are: the analysis of trends and factors determining changes and improving the efficiency of the functioning of vocational education and training systems; identification of factors of synchronization of the Russian system of secondary vocational education, the labor market and the personnel needs of enterprises; substantiation of the need for status and structural changes in the system of Russian secondary vocational education.Conclusions. The practical significance of the research is to demonstrate the possibilities of retrospective, prognostic and comparative analyses in assessing the activities of secondary vocational education and training institutions, their transformation into other educational systems.

Социальная политика в отношении лиц пенсионного возраста в условиях пандемии: исследование отечественного и зарубежного опыта

Persons of retirement age are the most vulnerable category of citizens requiring support from the state during a pandemic. The article considers social support measures, as well as measures taken in various states and aimed at reducing the incidence and mortality rate among the population (self-isolation regime, transition to remote work, mask regime, recommendations for visiting public places at certain hours). Based on an analysis of social policy and measures implemented in these countries, measures have been proposed to increase social guarantees in Russia against persons of retirement age during the coronavirus pandemic.

Tuberous sclerosis associated with congenital lymphedema

Tuberous sclerosis complex is an autosomal dominant hereditary disease characterized by the formation of multiple hamartomas in various organs and tissues. Although tuberous sclerosis is considered to be a rare condition, it is among the most common genetic diseases. According to the literature, 16 cases of tuberous sclerosis associated with congenital lymphedema have been revealed from 1984 in scientific publications. Only four of these cases were described in male patients. Such combinations have not been yet described in the Russian studies. The article discusses different aspects of a rare clinical case presented by the combination of tuberous sclerosis with congenital lymphedema in a male patient aged 1 year and 6 months.

The application of diagnostic methods for disturbance of reading and writing in Russian population studies

Dyslexia (disturbance of reading) and dysgraphia (disturbance of writing) are a common problem of teaching children in secondary schools. Information on the prevalence of these conditions is ambiguous, the data presented in the Russian speech therapy literature differ from the results of a few foreign works, and therefore population studies are becoming particularly relevant. The review of the domestic methodological base with the prospect of application in population research and international approaches to population screening are presented.

Perceptions of War-Peace and Ukraine-Russia in Textbooks Corresponding to Russia and Ukraine Social Studies Course

This study examined how the perceptions of war and peace and the perceptions of both countries towards each other are handled in the textbooks corresponding to social studies course in Russia and Ukraine. The analysis of the compared textbooks in terms of targeted images is also related to the current Russia-Ukraine war. In this study designed as qualitative research, the data were obtained through descriptive analysis. The first finding of the study revealed that in the textbooks analysed in terms of the frequency of use of the concepts of war and peace and the target country-nation expression; the concept of war is more frequent than the concept of peace at all grade levels in both countries. The second finding showed that in general, the Ukrainian-Ukraine image in Russian social studies textbooks is neutral, while the Russian-Russia image in Ukrainian history textbooks is negative. Another finding of the study is that the Russian and Ukrainian social studies textbooks use various visuals that evoke the concepts of war and peace. The last finding of the study revealed that various metaphors, implicit messages, or slogan-like expressions in terms of the concept of war, peace and target country-nation were encountered in the textbooks corresponding to social studies course in Russia and Ukraine.

ИССЛЕДОВАНИЯ ГРАНИЦ В РОССИИ В ЗЕРКАЛЕ БИБЛИОМЕТРИИ

Border studies as interdisciplinary field have been developing in Russia since the 1990s, but only in recent years have they become the subject of scientific reflection, which occurs mainly in the format of private expert assessments. The purpose of the article is a quantitative analysis of the state and trends in the dynamics of Russian border studies based on bibliometric data extracted from the eLIBRARY.RU publication database. Bibliometric analysis made it possible to identify the periodization of ups and downs in the publication activity of border researchers and consumers of their knowledge, the scale of this scientific field, its disciplinary composition and geography, to highlight some features of the problems of Russian border studies and to assess the level of their internal unity. Expert opinions were confirmed about the high fragmentation of domestic border studies and the weak tendencies of their theoretical, methodological and conceptual consolidation. It has been suggested that a polynuclear network structure of this scientific field is being formed, and that for now the leading role in the processes of its gradual integration is played by the transdisciplinary dissemination of quantitative methods and the solution of synthetic applied problems.

О развитии арктических исследований через призму наукометрии

There are still few Russian studies on quantitative measurements of Arctic science that could help create a holistic picture of developing research, compare the contributions of individual countries, and assess Russia’s scientific potential. The performed scientometric analysis partly fills this gap, relying on multiple sources: bibliographic databases Web of Science Core Collection and DIMENSIONS; grant databases of Russia, the USA and Germany. The analysis revealed: 1) the fast growth of Arctic publications in the period 1980–2020 with an average annual rate of 5 % after 2008, which is similar to some high-tech fields; 2) increasing globalisation of research performed by scientists from more than 100 countries; 3) changes in Arctic research interests, including long-term trends (socialisation of research, decreasing share of works on geology and physical geography) and fast new trends (increasing share of publications on economics and technologies of industry 4.0). According to calculations, Russia is third among countries in terms of the number of Arctic publications in the Web of Science Core Collection database, significantly contributing to highly cited papers; however, this contribution may be negatively affected by a decline in the share of Russian publications with international co-authorship. Thanks to its traditionally strong position, the Russian Academy of Sciences remains the leading centre of global Arctic research; within the country, it promotes Arctic science through its regional branches and institutes, as well as supports the intensification of university studies. The abstracts of selected 2023 Arctic grants reflect the topics of some future publications; for example, their analysis showed different attitudes towards the role of the climate factor in Arctic research: excessive focus of projects supported by foreign funds and a more balanced approach in Russian projects.