- Post-Socialist Societies, Cultural Studies, Popular Culture, Critical and Cultural Theory, Body politics, Borders and Borderlands, and 15 moreBorder Theory, Baltic Sea Region Studies, Estonia, Baltic Studies, Semiotics, Cultural Semiotics, Yuri Lotman, Mega Events, Biopolitics, Georgia, Ukrainian Studies, Austria, European Studies, Polish Studies, and Nationalismedit
The authors analyse Lotman's semiotics in a series of temporal contexts, starting with the rigidity of Soviet-era ideologies, through to the post-Soviet de-politicization that - paradoxically enough - ended with the reproduction of... more
The authors analyse Lotman's semiotics in a series of temporal contexts, starting with the rigidity of Soviet-era ideologies, through to the post-Soviet de-politicization that - paradoxically enough - ended with the reproduction of Soviet-style hegemonic discourse in the Kremlin and ultimately reignited politically divisive conflicts between Russia and Europe. The book demonstrates how Lotman's ideas cross disciplinary boundaries and their relevance to many European theorists of cultural studies, discourse analysis and political philosophy. Lotman lived and worked in Estonia, which, even under Soviet rule, maintained its own borderland identity located at the intersection of Russian and European cultural flows. The authors argue that in this context Lotman’s theories are particularly revealing in relation to Russian-European interactions and communications, both historically and in a more contemporary sense
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This book focuses on the recent political trajectories within the Baltic Sea Region from one of the success stories of regionalism in Europe to a potential area of military confrontation between Russia and NATO. The authors closely... more
This book focuses on the recent political trajectories within the Baltic Sea Region from one of the success stories of regionalism in Europe to a potential area of military confrontation between Russia and NATO. The authors closely examine the following issues: new security challenges for the region stemming from Russia’s staunch anti-EU and anti-NATO polices, institutions and practices of multi-level governance in the region, and different cultural strategies that regional actors employ. The common threads of this innovative volume are issues of changing borders and boundaries in the region, and logics of inclusion and exclusion that shape its political contours. From diverse disciplinary and methodological positions the authors explain policies of specific Baltic Sea states, as well as structural matters that make them a region.
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The conflict in Ukraine and Russia's annexation of Crimea has undoubtedly been a pivotal moment for policy makers and military planners in Europe and beyond. Many analysts see an unexpected character in the conflict and expect negative... more
The conflict in Ukraine and Russia's annexation of Crimea has undoubtedly been a pivotal moment for policy makers and military planners in Europe and beyond. Many analysts see an unexpected character in the conflict and expect negative reverberations and a long-lasting period of turbulence and uncertainty, the de-legitimation of international institutions and a declining role for global norms and rules. Did these events bring substantial correctives and modifications to the extant conceptualization of International Relations? Does the conflict significantly alter previous assumptions and foster a new academic vocabulary, or, does it confirm the validity of well-established schools of thought in international relations? Has the crisis in Ukraine confirmed the vitality and academic vigour of conventional concepts?
These questions are the starting points for this book covering conceptualisations from rationalist to reflectivist, and from quantitative to qualitative. Most contributors agree that many of the old concepts, such as multi-polarity, spheres of influence, sovereignty, or even containment, are still cognitively valid, yet believe the eruption of the crisis means that they are now used in different contexts and thus infused with different meanings. It is these multiple, conceptual languages that the volume puts at the centre of its analysis.
This text will be of great interest to students and scholars studying international relations, politics, and Russian and Ukrainian studies.
These questions are the starting points for this book covering conceptualisations from rationalist to reflectivist, and from quantitative to qualitative. Most contributors agree that many of the old concepts, such as multi-polarity, spheres of influence, sovereignty, or even containment, are still cognitively valid, yet believe the eruption of the crisis means that they are now used in different contexts and thus infused with different meanings. It is these multiple, conceptual languages that the volume puts at the centre of its analysis.
This text will be of great interest to students and scholars studying international relations, politics, and Russian and Ukrainian studies.
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The article addresses the sphere of performing arts as part of Russia's security policy and, in particular, its propaganda dimensions. The authors approach cultural representations as appeals to universal norms rather than to national... more
The article addresses the sphere of performing arts as part of Russia's security policy and, in particular, its propaganda dimensions. The authors approach cultural representations as appeals to universal norms rather than to national interests and in this respect focus on two specific cases of aestheticization of military force applied beyond the national borders of the Russian Federation — in Georgia in August 2008 and in Syria since September 2015. These cases are comparable with each other, since the external projections of Russia's hard power were accompanied by similar cultural gestures — namely, public concerts of classical music performed by the world-famous Valery Gergiev's Mariinsky Theater in two sites controlled by Russian troops, Tskhinvali and Palmyra. The article argues that the Russian government uses two strategies of aesthe-ticizing its military missions — mimetic (implying the closest possible correspondence to reality) and aesthetic (based on imageries), though the distinction between the two is not always well fixed.
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This article sketches out general approach to using cultural semiotics as a cognitive tool for analyzing international relations in general and in post-Soviet area in particular. The authors discuss how the homegrown school of cultural... more
This article sketches out general approach to using cultural semiotics as a cognitive tool for analyzing international relations in general and in post-Soviet area in particular. The authors discuss how the homegrown school of cultural semiotics associated with the University of Tartu can be helpful for IR studies. In this respect we place cultural semiotic knowledge in a multidisciplinary perspective and look for projections of its concepts into the vocabulary of foreign policy. Then we intend to discuss the Tartu school from a political perspective, thus claiming that its premium put on cultural issues renders strong politicizing effects. Ultimately, we use cultural semiotic notions and approaches for problematizing the concept of the post-Soviet with its conflictual split between reproducing archaic policies and discourses, on the one hand, and playing by the rules of the post-modern society, with entertainment, hybridity and the spirit of deconstruction as its pivots.
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The 2014 Winter Olympic Games in Sochi, Russia, were during the preparations and run-up phase intensely followed by the global community and were generally associated with a vast array of problems: political, democratic, economic,... more
The 2014 Winter Olympic Games in Sochi, Russia, were during the preparations and run-up phase intensely followed by the global community and were generally associated with a vast array of problems: political, democratic, economic, ecological and security-related. When the hosting of a mega-event such as the Olympic Games has been awarded to a site in an authoritarian state, the global community has moral responsibilities to live up to. There is a need and an obligation to raise one’s voice and criticize where criticism is due also after the Games are concluded. For Sochi, as for sites of all major sports events, continued critical attention is therefore warranted also after the competitions. It is essential to try to gauge the extent to which predicted problems materialized, what happened afterwards and what have been the more long-term consequences and local effects. This is the general perspective that brought the authors of this volume together.
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The article addresses two dimensions of the refugee debate in Estonia – political discourses and cultural representations. The authors specifically focus on distinctions between the mainstream Estonian narrative and that of the Russophone... more
The article addresses two dimensions of the refugee debate in Estonia – political discourses and cultural representations. The authors specifically focus on distinctions between the mainstream Estonian narrative and that of the Russophone community, as well as on the role of Russia and Europe as two major shapers of the refugee debate
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This article begins with an analysis of Boris Nemtsov’s critical contribution to the Sochi Olympics debate and then projects it onto a wider discourse about mega-events in Russia. Being a native of Sochi, Nemtsov followed the issues... more
This article begins with an analysis of Boris Nemtsov’s critical contribution to the Sochi Olympics debate and then projects it onto a wider discourse about mega-events in Russia. Being a native of Sochi, Nemtsov followed the issues related to its transformation into an Olympic city, and even ran for mayor in 2009. In 2013 he co-authored a widely circulated report, “Winter Olympics in the Sub-tropics,” in which he raised substantial issues about transparency and accountability that remain relevant after the Olympics. Nemtsov’s analysis remains an important reference point for critical discourses that put an emphasis on corruption, mismanagement and societal risks associated with global sports events in authoritarian countries. In conclusion, the authors examine the plethora of critical Olympic discourses related to the nature of the current political regime in Russia as well as the policies pursued by global sports institutions.
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Research Interests: Mega Events and Russia
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For centuries, the South Caucasus was a region where external powers exercised strong influence. While independence has changed the situation and autonomous states evolved after the breakdown of the Soviet Union, both dependencies from -... more
For centuries, the South Caucasus was a region where external powers exercised strong influence. While independence has changed the situation and autonomous states evolved after the breakdown of the Soviet Union, both dependencies from - and necessary partner- ships with - powerful neighbours s are still the reality in Georgia and Armenia and Azerbaijan. Publication deals with nexus of Religion and Soft power in South Caucasus.
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Статья посвящена анализу оценок представителей различных социальных групп Казани (активистов – градозащитников, чиновников, бизнес-сообщества и населения) текущей политики сохранения, использования и развития культурно-исторического... more
Статья посвящена анализу оценок представителей различных социальных групп Казани (активистов – градозащитников, чиновников, бизнес-сообщества и населения) текущей политики сохранения, использования и развития культурно-исторического наследия города. На основании серии экспертных интервью и опроса жителей, проведенных в 2011 - 2012 годах , показывается неоднородность позиций и мнений внутри каждой из групп относительно способов городского управления архитектурным наследием, и возможностей их участия в этом процессе .
The paper analyzes the current policy of maintenance, use and development of the Kazan’s cultural heritage from view of different social groups (activists, officials, business community and populace). On the base of experts interviews and survey, carried out in 2011-2012, it is shown the heterogeneity of positions and opinions within each of these groups on the perfect approach to management of the cultural heritage and inequality in access in decision making process.
The paper analyzes the current policy of maintenance, use and development of the Kazan’s cultural heritage from view of different social groups (activists, officials, business community and populace). On the base of experts interviews and survey, carried out in 2011-2012, it is shown the heterogeneity of positions and opinions within each of these groups on the perfect approach to management of the cultural heritage and inequality in access in decision making process.
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В статье предпринимается попытка осмыслить практики гражданского активизма в отношении оспариваемых городских пространств с позиции культурсоциологической перспективы как событий — перформансов. Эмпирической базой работы стали случаи... more
В статье предпринимается попытка осмыслить практики гражданского активизма в отношении оспариваемых городских пространств с позиции культурсоциологической перспективы как событий — перформансов. Эмпирической базой работы стали случаи протестных акций 2010–2011 гг., организованные в защиту исторического центра Казани, которые анализируются как «успешные» или «убедительные» в своем воздействии на городские власти.
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The article explores the strategies of cultural production, transmission and consumption of popular culture within media convergence. I analyse internet-communities’ discussions of the Russian reality TV show ‘Dom-2’ to reveal the... more
The article explores the strategies of cultural production, transmission and consumption of popular culture within media convergence. I analyse internet-communities’ discussions of the Russian reality TV show ‘Dom-2’ to reveal the transformation of the ‘traditional’ distinction between producers, celebrities and audiences. I argue that the media convergence that questions the border between formats, genres and communication systems does not actually erase those boundaries, but rather creates new ones, while the consumer practices adopt new forms.
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""The article addresses post-Soviet transformation of urban public space as part of the society’s public sphere. Drawing from an actor-network theory and concepts of social production of space (Lefebvre, de Certeau) and territorial... more
""The article addresses post-Soviet transformation of urban
public space as part of the society’s public sphere. Drawing from
an actor-network theory and concepts of social production of
space (Lefebvre, de Certeau) and territorial production (Kärrholm),
the authors analyze the transformations of public places
in Minsk, Vilnius and Kazan. The focus of the study is the idea of
«fence» as a means of regulating a city’s symbolic – and public
space. The article argues that the use of barriers and, notably,
bodies as barriers has led to developing a specific set of strategies
of «disciplining» of the public sphere and practices of resisting
them in post-Soviet cities.""
public space as part of the society’s public sphere. Drawing from
an actor-network theory and concepts of social production of
space (Lefebvre, de Certeau) and territorial production (Kärrholm),
the authors analyze the transformations of public places
in Minsk, Vilnius and Kazan. The focus of the study is the idea of
«fence» as a means of regulating a city’s symbolic – and public
space. The article argues that the use of barriers and, notably,
bodies as barriers has led to developing a specific set of strategies
of «disciplining» of the public sphere and practices of resisting
them in post-Soviet cities.""
Research Interests:
This article sketches out general approach to using cultural semiotics as a cognitive tool for analyzing international relations in general and in post-Soviet area in particular. The authors discuss how the homegrown school of cultural... more
This article sketches out general approach to using cultural semiotics as a cognitive tool for analyzing international relations in general and in post-Soviet area in particular. The authors discuss how the homegrown school of cultural semiotics associated with the University of Tartu can be helpful for IR studies. In this respect we place cultural semiotic knowledge in a multidisciplinary perspective and look for projections of its concepts into the vocabulary of foreign policy. Then we intend to discuss the Tartu school from a political perspective, thus claiming that its premium put on cultural issues renders strong politicizing effects. Ultimately, we use cultural semiotic notions and approaches for problematizing the concept of the post-Soviet with its conflictual split between reproducing archaic policies and discourses, on the one hand, and playing by the rules of the post-modern society, with entertainment, hybridity and the spirit of deconstruction as its pivots.