Vol 13, No 7 (2024)
LINGUISTICS
National Question and Its Resolution: Semantics of Ethnic Disintegration and Integration in Russian History Textbooks of 20th-21st Centuries
Abstract
This article addresses the issue of verbalizing the semantics of ethnic disintegration (separation) and integration (unity) through terminological means. The study is based on an analysis of 40 combinations featuring the word “nation” and its derivatives, which are regularly employed in contemporary educational publications on Russian history from the 20th to the 21st century. The aim of this work is to describe the conceptual fields of ethnic disintegration or integration as represented by the terminological tools of educational historical discourse. Through a logical-semantic approach, the boundaries of the terminologies of disintegration / integration and their logical models are identified; the semantics of individual terminological units are described, including their axiological potentials. The structures of the conceptual fields represented by combinations with “nation” and its derivatives are delineated. The author concludes that the terms “national question” and “resolution of the national question” serve as foundational nominations within educational historical discourse, organizing the terminological systems of disintegration and integration. These terms are interpreted as opposing yet complementary fields that reflect the states of the nation and state in their opposition (political distancing of the nation from the state) or identification (political unity), encompassing a border zone filled with characteristics that facilitate the transition of the nation and state from one state to another.
Nauchnyi Dialog. 2024;13(7):9-27
9-27
Gottlieb Siegfried Bayer and Classical Latin Poetry in Scholarly Debate on Early History of Ancient Rus
Abstract
This article is dedicated to a stylistic feature of 17th-century scholarly texts, namely the incorporation of poetic quotations into polemical scientific discourse, which enhances the expressiveness of evaluations concerning opponents and their concepts. An analysis of Gottlieb Bayer's texts is conducted. A number of works by the academician of the Imperial Academy of Sciences, Gottlieb Siegfried Bayer (1694–1738), focus on the early history of Ancient Rus. In preparing these works, Bayer extensively relied on ancient historical sources, and his articles were written in Latin, which naturally involved the traditions of classical literature in discussions pertaining to the historical issues of early Rus. This publication examines quotations and reminiscences from classical Latin poetry introduced by G. S. Bayer in his article “Origines russicae” (“The Origins of the Russians,” posthumously published in 1741). The poetic interpolations within the scholarly text serve as elements of the author’s style and fulfill two purposes. Firstly, they are utilized by the author to illustrate his assertions, lending emotional depth to academic reasoning and subtly indicating the breadth of his intellectual horizon, which enhances the perception of the scholarly reliability of his work. Secondly, they sustain Bayer’s polemical stance towards certain established historical concepts of his time, allowing for a sharp critical tone that accentuates the polemical fervor without resorting to personal attacks.
Nauchnyi Dialog. 2024;13(7):28-48
28-48
Methods of Translating Names of Material Culture Objects into Russian (Translation of Yuan Ke’s “Myths of Ancient China”)
Abstract
This article analyzes the existing translation of Yuan Ke’s “Myths of Ancient China” (1960), carried out by E. I. Lubo-Lesnichenko and E. V. Puzitsky (1965), focusing on the strategies employed by the translators in conveying Chinese names into Russian in instances of cultural gaps. The aim of the article is to summarize the strategies adhered to by the authors in translating Chinese mythological narratives and to identify the most suitable methods for rendering names of material culture objects into Russian. An assessment is provided regarding the accuracy of translations of fragments of myths that mention concepts such as “tripod,” “jade hairpin,” “jade tablet,” “Jai-gong, Palace of Abstinence,” and others. The analysis reveals that the methods utilized by translators of ancient Chinese myths primarily include phonetic transliteration, literal translation, addition, omission, and annotation. However, the application of these strategies sometimes results in distortion and omission of the original information. This article proposes translational strategies, within the framework of foreignization, that should be adhered to when translating Chinese mythological narratives: addition, omission, transfer, substitution, division, combination, and transliteration.
Nauchnyi Dialog. 2024;13(7):49-69
49-69
Author’s Identity and Translator’s Identity: A Clash of Positions and Creative Synthesis
Abstract
This article addresses the issues of artistic translation. It evaluates the potential for mutual collaboration between the author and the translator, as well as the conflicts that may arise between them. Various types of artistic translation are analyzed. It is noted that in traditional translation, the creative individuality of the translator is manifested where the author's identity is diminished, resulting in a greater reflection of the translator’s own experiences. This approach inevitably leads to deviations in translation, discrepancies in worldview orientations, and clashes between two idiolects. In works co-created by the original author and the translator, the linguistic and cultural specifics of the translation actors are taken into account, including the recipient as a full-fledged participant in intercultural communication. In self-translation, the clash of the author’s and translator’s mindsets is unavoidable when the socio-cultural realities reflected in the texts of different languages do not align. An authentic text emerges with its own historical, cultural, and literary context. The creator of the text thinks across different linguistic and cultural dimensions, striving to produce a complete work in another language, which consequently transforms not only the plot-compositional structure of the original but also its genre characteristics, ultimately leading to a loss of the writer’s unique artistic style.
Nauchnyi Dialog. 2024;13(7):70-88
70-88
Actualization of Axiolemmas in Political Discourse of Russia and China (New Year Addresses of V. V. Putin and Xi Jinping)
Abstract
This article presents the findings of a comparative study on the values articulated in the New Year addresses of the political leaders of Russia and China. The research addresses the challenge of identifying the determinants that influence their choices within epideictic texts. An analysis of the New Year addresses delivered by Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping from 2019 to 2023, approached from a linguo-axiological perspective, has highlighted the concepts of PEOPLE and GOVERNMENT, indicating the significance of themes related to the populace and representatives of authority in the political discourses of both countries. It is demonstrated that these congratulatory speeches actualize vital, political, national-cultural, moral-ethical, economic, and ecological concepts. Among these, the Russian President’s addresses place the greatest emphasis on the representation of moral-ethical concepts, while the Chinese leader’s addresses provide a more detailed presentation of political concepts. It has been revealed that in the speeches of the Chinese political leader, the concept of GOVERNMENT is verbalized through references to the country’s political party and through the expression of personal sentiments using the first-person singular pronoun. The results of this study have identified both objective and subjective factors that determine the selection of value dominants reflected in the New Year addresses of the political leaders of Russia and China.
Nauchnyi Dialog. 2024;13(7):89-109
89-109
Names of Russian Oven and Its Components in Arkhangelsk Dialects
Abstract
This article is dedicated to the study of dialectal vocabulary belonging to the thematic group “Russian Oven,” which is included in the second volume of the “Thematic Dictionary of Arkhangelsk Dialects.” This dictionary documents lexicon related to wooden structures and their components. The primary aim of this research is to record the nominations within the thematic group “Russian Oven” and to determine the meanings of the selected words for inclusion in the dictionary. The material for this article and the dictionary comprises dialectal records housed in the archive of the Department of Russian Language and Speech Culture at the Northern (Arctic) Federal University named after M. V. Lomonosov. The study employed a method of comprehensive sampling of words from the department’s archive, along with descriptive and lexicographic methods to clarify word meanings. The research reveals the diversity of dialectal vocabulary that names parts of the Russian oven; the same component may have various designations across different regions of Arkhangelsk Oblast, leading to the formation of synonyms, as well as phonetic, morphological, and derivational variations. A significant derivational cluster consists of words with the root -печ-, which are formed through suffixation (pechka, pechishcha, pechurok, pechurochek, etc.) and prefix-suffixation (opechek, opechye, podpechek, podpechye, pripechek, pripechye, protipechye, etc.).
Nauchnyi Dialog. 2024;13(7):110-127
110-127
Linguistic Manifestation of Concept of HEALTH in Contemporary Domestic Discursive Practices (Newspaper Corpora)
Abstract
This study addresses the issue of the linguistic explication of the concept of HEALTH within contemporary domestic media discourse. An investigation has been conducted into the functioning of the conceptual name — the lexeme ‘health’ — through linguistic material derived from contexts extracted from newspaper corpora within the National Corpus of the Russian Language. A corpus-based discursive analysis methodology was employed. Conceptual-metaphorical models that enrich the meaning of the concept and expand its semantic scope have been identified. It is demonstrated that the semantic transformations of the lexeme ‘health’ in its discursive realization reveal reflections on the understanding of the abstract concept of HEALTH as a resource, substance, physical object, mechanism, container, living entity, and more. It has been established that the augmentation of the semantic volume of the concept in contexts of attributive and genitive compatibility illustrates the dissemination of notions regarding health as a normal state or functioning of various entities across a wide array of spiritual, moral, psychological, emotional, social, political, economic, financial, industrial, natural, and cultural domains, including the operational sphere of devices, household items, instruments, and mechanisms. The study concludes with the assertion that the analyzed concept possesses a representative value potential linked to the cognitive dominance of normativity.
Nauchnyi Dialog. 2024;13(7):128-153
128-153
Hybrid ‘sledom’ [follows] in Area of Interaction of Nouns and Adverbs: Semantics and Grammar
Abstract
This article presents the results of a study on the process and outcome of the stepwise adverbialization of the instrumental case of nouns in the Russian. The relevance of this work is underscored by the attention to the interaction between grammatical and semantic aspects within lexical units subject to transposition at the level of parts of speech. The aim of the article is to elucidate the specifics of hybrid structures formed as a result of the functional adverbialization of nouns in the instrumental case. The material used consists of contexts from the Russian National Corpus featuring substantive word forms like ‘sledom’, demonstrating various stages of adverbialization. An interdisciplinary approach is employed, utilizing methods of oppositional analysis, indexing, linguistic experimentation, as well as elements of componential and distributional analysis. Using the word form ‘sledom’ as a case study, the primary stages of adverbial transposition of nouns in Russian are identified. The analysis reveals that within the hybrid zone, the word form ‘sledom’ exhibits 55 % correspondence with the features of its original noun (‘sled’) and 60 % correspondence with the characteristics of a core adverb (‘sledom’). Lexicalization of the word form at this stage of adverbialization is not observed; it continues to function within the semantic domain of the original substantive lexeme. The significance of this research lies in its contribution to the development of a general theory of transitivity and syncretism in the grammatical structure of language, as well as the potential application of the proposed methods of oppositional analysis and indexing in studying other types of transpositional transformations within the system of parts of speech in the Russian.
Nauchnyi Dialog. 2024;13(7):154-170
154-170
MEDIA COMMUNICATIONS AND JOURNALISM
Media Representation of Tutoring as a Phenomenon of Pedagogical Discourse
Abstract
The aim of this study is to explore the media representation of tutoring as a phenomenon within pedagogical discourse. An analysis of a thematic corpus of texts reveals that the imported concept of TUTORING acquires new conceptual features that reflect the linguistic and cultural specificity of its interpretation in the Russian-speaking media landscape. Distinctive characteristics of the media representation of the conceptual education of TUTOR are established in comparison with traditional pedagogical professions and its definition in professional standards. It is demonstrated that in the Russian-speaking media discourse, tutoring is perceived by the professional discursive community as a profession of the future, tasked with shaping individuals capable of addressing the global challenges of modernity. Evaluative characteristics of the phenomenon of TUTORING are identified, reflecting its perception by both the professional discursive community and a broader readership. In the former case, positive evaluations prevail, characterized by notions of ‘assistance’ and ‘support’; in the latter, negative evaluative traits emerge, associated with skepticism towards tutoring. Figurative-perceptual characteristics of tutoring are presented, expressed through metaphorical strategies based on source domains such as “Sport,” “Journey,” and “Nature.” The study of the phenomenon of tutoring underscores the significance of the discursive factor in understanding the concept.
Nauchnyi Dialog. 2024;13(7):172-195
172-195
Media Communications as a Context for Imprinting Formation
Abstract
The author of this article posits that media communications serve as a context for the formation of imprinting — a psychophysiological mechanism whereby impressions or images are etched into the brain, evolving into stable behavioral programs. The identification of these programs is facilitated through the analysis of media texts with a high attention coefficient. The study analyzed 200 media texts across various typological niches within the contemporary media system: online news outlets, social media platforms (VK, Odnoklassniki), and blogs, including the “Zen” platform. The findings indicate that different typological segments of the media system represent distinct behavioral programs. In online news outlets, behavioral programs are explicitly manifested in cognitive actions aimed at understanding processes related to Russia’s economic and political landscape. In social media, the prevailing behavioral program is encapsulated in a sentiment inspired by the phenomenology of serendipity. The “Zen” blog platform reveals imprinting through the categories of “irresponsibility,” “playfulness,” and “hooliganism.” In other blogs featuring high attention indices, imprinting is observed in the contemplation of professional issues related to activities in the digital space. The various typological niches of the media system are geared towards the formation of heterogeneous psychophysiological mechanisms, which transform into an axiological foundation that shapes diverse behavioral programs.
Nauchnyi Dialog. 2024;13(7):196-216
196-216
Integration of Blogging and Children’s Television: Issues and Perspectives
Abstract
The issue of integrating blogging practices into children’s television programs is considered as one of the factors for popularizing the latter among the younger generation. It is noted that children prefer entertaining online resources. It is shown that parents are concerned about their children’s immersion in the virtual sphere, the difficulty of controlling the information received, and the influence of popular bloggers on shaping children’s worldview. It is pointed out that resources for children under 13 are widely available on the Internet and television, while there are no such specialized resources for teenagers, particularly on central television. Meanwhile, the government has adopted a program document for the development of education for children and adolescents, in which a television channel for the latter could provide certain assistance. The author of the article proposes a working concept for a children’s television channel for teenagers, which integrates blogging practices. It is concluded that the synthesis of educational, developmental, and entertainment functions, involving child bloggers and the target audience in program development and hosting, organizing active feedback with the audience, and other factors will contribute to the channel’s success, provided there is government interest.
Nauchnyi Dialog. 2024;13(7):217-235
217-235
LITERARY STUDIES. FOLKLORE
Transcendentalist Ideas in Works of Mexican-American Border Writers of 20th Century: Mary Hunter Austin and Rudolfo Anaya
Abstract
This article explores the embodiment and development of transcendentalist ideas from the 1830s to the 1850s in the works of Mexican-American border writers Mary Austin and Rudolfo Anaya, spanning the early and late 20th century. An analysis of the ideological and thematic content of their texts is conducted, highlighting key images and motifs. The study identifies the specific ways in which these authors perceive the relationship between humanity and nature, characterizing their views on social and personal harmony within the context of ethnocultural interaction. The research material includes popular sketches by Mary Austin (1868–1934) from the early 20th century, as well as the internationally renowned novels and essays of Rudolfo Anaya (1937–2020) from the latter third of the 20th century. The methodological foundation of this study is philosophical reflection, which enables the analysis of literary texts through the lens of philosophical concepts. The results indicate that transcendentalist ideas, rooted in the legacy of R. Emerson and H. Thoreau, are revitalized in the works of 20th-century Mexican-American border authors. In the prose of Mary Austin, a representative of early 20th-century Southwestern regional literature, there is a focus on the idyllic nature of human-nature relationships and the search for harmonious coexistence among members of society, which is envisioned through a pursuit of simplicity and “voluntary poverty.” Rudolfo Anaya’s transcendental vision of the world in his works from the latter third of the 20th century facilitates the transmission of an overarching theme of spiritual and moral self-improvement. According to the author, personal self-perfection is a crucial condition for achieving social harmony.
Nauchnyi Dialog. 2024;13(7):237-255
237-255
“Floral Ornament of Reality”: Flowers in Worldview of E. T. A. Hoffmann and N. A. Polevoy
Abstract
The relevance of this study is grounded in the scholarly significance of the issue of Russian-German literary connections as a crucial factor in intercultural interaction. This article analyzes works in which the authors articulate a mystical sense of nature, based on the natural philosophical ideas of F. Schelling. The focus of the investigation is the national distinctiveness of Romanticism, manifested in the peculiarities of nature perception, particularly floral imagery. It is demonstrated that the Romantic writers of Germany and Russia perceived love, within the value-emotional framework of the Romantic universe, as a mystical feeling that enables one to penetrate the mysterious forces of nature. The floral motifs within the works contribute an additional allegorical meaning to the artistic worlds of E. T. A. Hoffmann and N. A. Polevoy. The “floral background” of the characters in the analyzed texts (the tulip Gamachea, the thistle Pepush, the bride Tis — Little Rose; Emma — cornflower; Italy — “poor forget-me-not,” among others) establishes a symbolic language of nature. Attention is also given to motifs traditional to German literature: yearning, soul affinity, reminiscence of a “different world,” and the union of lovers in death, which are reflected in the examined works of Russian literature. The novelty of this research lies in its consideration of N. A. Polevoy’s dialogue with the German literary tradition represented by E. T. A. Hoffmann as a result of his philosophical and poetic explorations.
Nauchnyi Dialog. 2024;13(7):256-275
256-275
Textual Criticism of Mikhail Lermontov’s Poem “Valerik” (1840)
Abstract
The focus of this study lies in the editorial distortions present in the scientific editions of Lermontov’s works concerning the poem “Valerik” and the necessity of reconstructing a definitive text in accordance with the author’s intent. The objective of the research is to identify semantic inaccuracies in the publications of “Valerik” and to elucidate the choices of variants that are closest to the authentic text. The materials for this study include Lermontov's rough autograph, a manuscript of the poem belonging to Yu. F. Samarin, the first publication of the poem in the 1843 almanac “Morning Dawn,” the edition of Lermontov’s works edited by P. A. Efremov, and scholarly editions from the 20th and 21st centuries. A comprehensive set of scientific methods and approaches has been employed to address the research question: source study methodology, textual criticism, logical-semantic analysis, and comparative analysis of the work, allowing for a connection between the history of the text and its interpretation. The comparison of the draft, manuscript, first, and subsequent publications of the poem revealed discrepancies related to noncompliance with the author’s punctuation, substitutions of certain words, including toponyms, omissions of phrases present in the draft, and inaccurate reproductions of the author’s variants. The necessity of liberating the text from editorial corrections that distort the semantic accents of Lermontov’s poem is argued.
Nauchnyi Dialog. 2024;13(7):276-292
276-292
“Incommensurable Airspace”: Image of Russia in Travelogue of Maxim Nezvorov
Abstract
This article analyzes the image of Russia in Maxim Nezvorov’s travelogue “Journey to Kazan, Vyatka, and Orenburg in 1800.” Based on theoretical frameworks, we identify three aspects of analysis: genre, spatiality, and subjectivity. The study employs structuraldescriptive and cultural-historical methods, alongside the foundational principles of N. L. Leiderman’s genre theory, V. L. Kagansky’s concept of cultural landscape, and B. O. Korman’s ideas on the subject of artistic text. Our findings indicate that the choice of a quasi-documentary epistolary form allowed the author to establish a commitment to authenticity, combined with a characteristically sentimental intention of the “sensitive traveler.” It is demonstrated that Nezvorov delineates a system-forming dichotomy of “centerperiphery,” within which the cultural landscape is (re)constructed. We conclude that the author evaluates a key component of this landscape — urban planning and architecture — while the landscape itself serves a supportive role. Nezvorov pays particular attention to the extraordinarily diverse ethnic composition of the empire’s population. Although he rarely grants his “interlocutors” a voice, their comments and judgments enable a partial reconstruction of the worldview of a person in the early 19th century, one of the key elements of which is the image of Russia.
Nauchnyi Dialog. 2024;13(7):293-310
293-310
Plot-Motivational Parallels in Heroic Epics of Yakuts, Karachays, and Balkars: Trials of Epic Hero
Abstract
This article explores the plot and motivational parallels present in the heroic epics of the Karachay-Balkar and Yakut traditions. It focuses on a central theme that is vital to the genre: the trials faced by the epic hero. The primary aim of this study is to investigate the unique features of overlapping plot motifs within these two Turkic narrative traditions, thereby illuminating their thematic and poetic characteristics. The research draws on a representative corpus of heroic epic recordings from the Yakuts, Karachays, and Balkars, collected throughout the 19th and 20th centuries, as well as narratives from other Turkic and Mongolicspeaking communities. Despite the significant geographical and temporal distances between these traditions, the analysis reveals a noteworthy number of coinciding plot situations and motifs. This study delves into the nuances of their representation and variation, tracing potential folkloric connections and origins. Particular attention is given to specific plots, such as “shooting at a distant celestial object,” “the hero’s temptation by a group of antagonists,” and “the stone that crumbles beneath the feet of the true hero.” The textual analysis concludes that there is a remarkable similarity in the concept of the epic hero across these traditions, alongside a rich variety of plots and motifs that likely trace back to a common source in Central Asia.
Nauchnyi Dialog. 2024;13(7):311-332
311-332
Prishvin on Stalin’s Collectivization: Observations of a Contemporary
Abstract
This article examines the perspectives of M. M. Prishvin on the collectivization of agriculture, utilizing materials from his “Diary”, which have only recently entered scholarly discourse in the post-Soviet years. The choice of this topic is motivated by the ongoing relevance and intensity of discussions surrounding the Stalin era in Soviet society. The focus of this study is a previously unexamined aspect within Prishvin studies: the writer’s attitude toward the radical transformation of traditional Russian peasant life. It is demonstrated that Prishvin, on one hand, critiques the ruthless methods employed in implementing collectivization, while on the other hand, acknowledges the positive aspects of the economic reforms occurring in rural areas. The significance of Prishvin’s insights regarding the origins and causes of collectivization is further underscored by the fact that his conclusions often predate those of several later researchers of the Soviet period. Prishvin’s analysis of both subjective and objective factors influencing Stalin’s collectivization reveals him not only as a gifted writer but also as an exceptional thinker with a distinct perspective on the pressing ideological, political, economic, and sociocultural issues of his time.
Nauchnyi Dialog. 2024;13(7):333-350
333-350
HISTORY
Migrants from China and Vietnam in South Ural Region (1991–2014)
Abstract
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.
Nauchnyi Dialog. 2024;13(7):352-368
352-368
German and Austro-Hungarian Armies in Perception of Russian Officer Corps in 1870s and 1880s
Abstract
This article examines the views that emerged among the Russian officer corps during the 1870s and 1880s regarding the German and Austro-Hungarian armies. The aim of the study is to illuminate the process of shaping these perceptions, trace their historical dynamics, and identify the factors influencing the transformation of Russian officers’ views during this period. Investigating this topic contributes to a deeper understanding of Russian foreign and military policy in the 1870s and 1880s, a time when a specific balance of power was taking shape in Europe and the outlines of military-political alliances that defined the nature of bloc opposition during World War I began to emerge. The study focuses primarily on the perspectives of the General Staff officer corps, as their responsibilities included the systematic study of foreign armies and the application of this knowledge for Russian military needs. Based on the conducted research, it is concluded that between the 1870s and 1880s, the attitude of the Russian officer corps towards the German army underwent changes that aligned with a sequence of “adversary” — “competitor” — “enemy,” while the Austro-Hungarian army was perceived as Russia’s key “competitor” in the Balkans.
Nauchnyi Dialog. 2024;13(7):369-390
369-390
Transformation of Religious Education System in Postcolonial Morocco
Abstract
This article examines the changes in the Islamic education system in the Kingdom of Morocco during the period of independent development. The primary objective of the study is to explore the unique Moroccan experience of integrating two distinct educational systems: Islamic and secular. The Moroccan practice may serve as a valuable example in light of the pressing issues of countering Islamist radicalism and extremism. The paper discusses the historical context, the reasons for governmental and societal attention to this topic, and the key stages in the transformation of the religious education system. An analysis of the prospects for Islamic education in contemporary Moroccan society is also provided. The research draws on official documents from the Moroccan Ministry of Education, national legislation, and royal speeches addressing this issue. It is demonstrated that throughout the second half of the 20th century and into the early decades of the 21st century, Moroccan authorities viewed the Islamic education system as a primary tool for influencing the political sphere, a key institution for shaping national culture, and a means to strengthen loyalty to the state. It is asserted that reforms in the Islamic education system in Morocco have enabled it to become more modern and relevant while simultaneously preserving the cultural traditions and uniqueness of the country.
Nauchnyi Dialog. 2024;13(7):391-409
391-409
Police Oversight of Legality in Railway Freight Transport in Russian Empire During World War I
Abstract
This article analyzes the activities of the gendarmerie railway police in ensuring compliance by freight carriers with prohibitions and restrictions on the export of certain raw materials and goods during World War I. Based on documentary materials, it reveals the content of the state policy of the Russian Empire regarding measures to halt the supply of essential resources to the Central Powers’ armies. The study of the administrative documentation of the railway police indicates that particular attention was paid to monitoring freight transport at border stations. The issue of police support for the stable functioning of railways under wartime conditions is explored. Gendarmerie officers facilitated the prioritization of military cargo movement along steel corridors. A critical responsibility of the gendarmerie was uncovering collusion among railway employees and shippers to manipulate train speeds for illicit speculative profit amid commodity shortages. The study concludes that the gendarmerie railway police played a significant role in overseeing the legality of freight transport during World War I. However, amid the disorganization of state mechanisms and deepening crises in Russian society, ensuring uninterrupted and effective railway operations proved impossible.
Nauchnyi Dialog. 2024;13(7):410-426
410-426
Fisheries Cooperationin Tambov Province during 1920s
Abstract
This article examines the experience of regional cooperative development during the New Economic Policy (NEP) years. It focuses on the specifics of the unification of primary fisheries cooperatives into district and provincial unions. The author identifies two stages in this process: 1) from 1921 to 1924, when fisheries cooperatives had their own specialized unions; 2) from 1924 to 1928, when fisheries cooperation became part of mixed unions. The article presents data on the composition and number of cooperatives involved in the activities of these unions. It analyzes the functioning of the unions against the backdrop of changing realities, including the transition from War Communism to NEP, reduction of the province’s territory, the resolutions of the XIV All-Union Conference of the AllUnion Communist Party (Bolsheviks), and the III All-Union Congress of Soviets, as well as the adoption of a course towards industrialization. In conclusion, it is asserted that the gradual disappearance of specialized unions had a detrimental effect on cooperative development in the province. Most projects and initiatives developed and organized by the leadership of specialized unions were not fully realized. In mixed unions, attention to fisheries cooperation was given only as an afterthought.
Nauchnyi Dialog. 2024;13(7):427-444
427-444
Suicides in Siberia from 1925 to 1937: Causes, Dynamics, and Significance
Abstract
This article attempts to establish the causes, trace the dynamics, and assess the significance of suicides that occurred in the Siberian and West Siberian regions between 1925 and 1937. The research is based on a diverse array of sources, including statistical compilations, minutes from meetings, resolutions from party, Soviet, and Komsomol bodies, reports from special commissions, administrative correspondence, and materials from periodical publications. Through a comprehensive analysis of this heterogeneous information, the article demonstrates an increase in the number of suicides in Siberia, elucidates the demographic and social-professional composition of those who voluntarily ended their lives, and identifies the methods employed as well as the most common reasons for suicide. These parameters are analyzed in comparison with similar indicators across the RSFSR and the USSR, revealing the presence of regional specificity. The article challenges the prevailing historiographical view that placed sole responsibility for suicides on the individuals themselves. It presents evidence that one significant avenue for combating suicides involved holding accountable those whose actions or inactions contributed to these tragic events. The conclusion drawn is that, despite failing to achieve tangible success in preventing suicides, the higher political leadership at both regional and provincial levels managed to create an illusion that this phenomenon had been entirely eradicated.
Nauchnyi Dialog. 2024;13(7):445-469
445-469
Regions of Italy in Context of Italian-Chinese Relations in 21st Century
Abstract
This study examines the development of transregional relations between the regions of Italy and those of China, including the Special Administrative Regions of Hong Kong and Macau. It highlights the interplay between centrifugal and centripetal tendencies within the framework of Italy’s ‘center — regions’ relationship system. The analysis provides insights into the normative foundations of international and foreign policy activities of Italy’s territorial communities, grounded in the national Constitution and relevant legislation. The findings demonstrate that Italian regions possess very limited capabilities for independent foreign and economic policy initiatives, a restriction stemming from the Italian Constitution, which permits regional cooperation only in the realms of economy and culture. In contrast, among the regions of China, only Hong Kong and Macau exhibit the capacity for autonomous external activities. Furthermore, it is revealed that Chinese migrants in Italy play a significant role in fostering Italian-Chinese interregional ties, maintaining connections with their homeland. The study concludes that Italian regions are notably less active internationally compared to regions in other EU countries.
Nauchnyi Dialog. 2024;13(7):470-485
470-485
National Conflicts in North Caucasus: Origins and Resolution
Abstract
This article examines the causes and consequences of national conflicts in the North Caucasus. It addresses issues related to the sources of ethnic conflicts in contemporary times. The significance of the North Caucasus as a bridge connecting north to south and west to east is emphasized, highlighting its immense importance for the Russian Federation. From a geostrategic perspective, this region serves as a gateway to Central Asia while also providing access to Western markets. The paper pays particular attention to events that have transpired since the late 1980s in the Caucasus, where some of the most acute ethnopolitical conflicts and wars have occurred. Six out of eight armed ethnopolitical civil conflicts in the post-Soviet space unfolded in this region. The article raises the issue that, as a result of these events, the Caucasian region has become a battleground for separatist organizations within the post-Soviet context. Armed conflicts have led to numerous human casualties, material losses, economic downturns, and other tragedies. Based on the materials studied, it is concluded that ethnic conflicts are diverse in their manifestations. The conditions for the politicization of ethnic conflicts in the North Caucasus are also explored.
Nauchnyi Dialog. 2024;13(7):486-504
486-504
Mountain Jewish Community of Kabardino-Balkaria from 1944 to 1965
Abstract
This article addresses the issue of state-religious relations through the lens of the registered religious community of Mountain Jews in the city of Nalchik, Kabardino-Balkaria. The selected period from 1944 to 1965 encompasses the operations of the Council for Religious Affairs and its regional representation. The aim of this study is to identify state policies regarding the Mountain Jewish believers based on archival documents and thematic analysis. The research reveals that from the early 1950s, bureaucratic pressure on the religious community intensified within a multi-tiered system of control. Protocols, cash receipts, and reports obtained from the Mountain Jewish community served as an informational basis for the regional representative of the Council for Religious Affairs when preparing documents for the central authority. The closure of the synagogue, restrictions on cooperation in preparing believers for holidays, and various bureaucratic maneuvers did not yield the desired results for the authorities. Despite the official closure of the synagogue in 1951, religious holidays resonated widely among believers beyond the registered group and official mandates. In the context of financial flows and material concerns, Mountain Jewish believers found ways to circumvent the constraints imposed by the state.
Nauchnyi Dialog. 2024;13(7):505-521
505-521
Memorialization of V. I. Surikov in Cultural-Historical and Urban Space of Krasnoyarsk (1916–1926)
Abstract
This article examines the process of memorializing the legacy of V. I. Surikov (1848– 1916) during the pre-revolutionary and Soviet periods. As a renowned artist, he remained connected to his homeland, significantly influencing the development of artistic life in Siberia. The focus is on the involvement of staff from the Krasnoyarsk City Museum (later known as the Museum of the Yenisei Region) in preserving the artist’s heritage, as well as their activities in 1926, marking the tenth anniversary of his death. The relevance of this study is underscored not only by an interest in the life and work of this eminent artist but also by an analysis of how his remarkable persona shaped historical memory and the cultural-historical potential of the region. Utilizing a wide range of sources, the research encompasses a significant historical period and outlines, in chronological order, a series of initiatives aimed at preserving the memory of this notable figure in his native Krasnoyarsk. The article highlights the close collaboration between the Krasnoyarsk Museum and members of the Surikov family — A. I. Surikov and O. V. Konchalovskaya. The findings conclude that without the active participation of the Museum of the Yenisei Region, preserving the memory of this distinguished local figure would have been impossible. In conclusion, it is noted that the memorialization process unfolded over an extended period, and today, the artist’s name serves as a brand for Krasnoyarsk.
Nauchnyi Dialog. 2024;13(7):522-539
522-539