Search

The article examines several issues that inhibits the growth of Russian culture as of October 2014. It discusses two characteristics of culture including its influence on how humans mold themselves. It tackles culture's unique resources as well as the views of experts on the problems inhibiting the growth of Russian culture. It also details the study on the cultural activities in Russia from 1985 to 2014.

A transcription of a meeting of the Department of Foreign Policy Planning of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation is presented. Topics include the condition of the biosphere, the interaction between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs with the scientific and business communities, and the Scientific Council Under the Russian Minister of Foreign Affairs.

The article discusses the Russian perspective on international humanitarian cooperation in the 21st century, focusing on issues related to globalization and culture. The challenges faced by Rossotrudnichestvo (the Federal Agency for the Commonwealth of Independent States, Compatriots Living Abroad and International Humanitarian Cooperation) are discussed in terms of Russia's international prestige and influence in world affairs. A brief historical overview of Russian engagement with the larger world is presented in this context, beginning with the reforms of Czar Peter the Great .

The article discusses the differing paces of economic reform in Russia and China. China's much greater rate of economic growth is seen as a result of that country introducing reforms earlier, in the late 1970s, versus Russia, which did not see the reforms of "perestroika" until the late 1980s, during the late Soviet period. Also discussed are cultural differences, with the Chinese seen as historically placing greater emphasis than Russians on education. Also discussed is religion and state in the two countries, and differences between Chinese and Soviet communism.

The article features Russian Orientalist Lev Gumilev and his contributions to Russian history. During the 1950s, Gumilev started to reassess the historical values, meaning the rooted ideas and methods of historical studies. He believes that it is mission to the reality of the 13th century in Russia. He attributed the birth of Russian civilization to the Byzantine spiritual culture and the fraternity of the steppe batyrs of the Horde.

An introduction is presented in which the editor discusses various reports within the issue on topics including the economic condition of Russia, the issues inhibiting the growth of modern Russian culture, and mathematical modeling of historical processes.