This study focusses on the Khrushchev regime's attempt to reform domestic cooking as a part of its struggle for the communist way of life (kommunisticheskii byt) during the Khrushchev era (1956...Show moreThis study focusses on the Khrushchev regime's attempt to reform domestic cooking as a part of its struggle for the communist way of life (kommunisticheskii byt) during the Khrushchev era (1956—1964). Official Soviet publications (policy documents, cookbooks and women's magazines) are the primary sources to this study. The Khrushchev regime did indeed attempt to reform domestic cooking in order to fit it with communist ideals, such as the liberation of women and the organization of the Soviet population's nutrition according to scientific principles. It, however, also responded to the realities of Soviet daily life (e.g. the persistent shortages of foodstuffs).Show less
Roots of the conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan over Nagorno-Karabakh reach the times of the USSR or deeper. After the collapse of the Soviet Union hopes for the conflicts resolution were high...Show moreRoots of the conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan over Nagorno-Karabakh reach the times of the USSR or deeper. After the collapse of the Soviet Union hopes for the conflicts resolution were high; however, after the cease-fire agreement was sign in 1994, the peace-making process seems to reach the stalemate. For over two decades the conflict remains unsettled, often being referred to as ‘frozen’. Nevertheless, this might not be the most accurate term, since the cease-fire agreement is frequently being broken by all of the conflict parties, and causes casualties (72 people killed in 2014). This thesis investigates the peace efforts for possible shortcomings that could curb the conflict settlement, and potential incentives derived from economic and political regimes of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic that could motivate this de facto state to favour the current status quo.Show less
The Decembrist movement produced a large quantity of civic poetry with utopian elements, but hardly any full-blown and self-contained literary utopias. This is surprising given the utopian ideals...Show moreThe Decembrist movement produced a large quantity of civic poetry with utopian elements, but hardly any full-blown and self-contained literary utopias. This is surprising given the utopian ideals of its adherents and sympathizers. One of them, Vil’gelm Kjuxel’beker, produced two short utopian stories, i.e. European Letters and The Land of the Headless. Obscure and seemingly unfinished as these works are, they have hardly received any serious scholarly attention. In my thesis, I argue that these works are certainly socially relevant, and should be interpreted as patriotic documents that reflect the Decembrist discourse. European Letters, written in 1819, paints a rosy picture of Russia’s future, which has become the world’s superior civilization after Europe and America and is inhabited by morally perfected human beings that remind one of the “new man.” On the eve of the Decembrist revolt, when the initial naïve optimism had disappeared, Kjuxel’beker wrote a second, negative utopia under the title The Land of the Headless. This work criticizes trends in contemporary Russian society, satirically exaggerating their possible harmful consequences and pleaing for national self-liberation and preservation of the (patriarchal) national traditions.Show less
An examination of how Vladimir Putin's state building process has engaged with Russia's Imperial past through the examination of academic articles, contemporary newspaper articles and official...Show moreAn examination of how Vladimir Putin's state building process has engaged with Russia's Imperial past through the examination of academic articles, contemporary newspaper articles and official speeches.Show less
Examining human rights organisations in the period between 2006-2016 and in three key spheres: legislation, civic culture and funding. It concludes that it is becoming increasingly difficult for...Show moreExamining human rights organisations in the period between 2006-2016 and in three key spheres: legislation, civic culture and funding. It concludes that it is becoming increasingly difficult for independent human rights organisations to work in Russia and that this is unlikely to improve in the future unless significant legislative changes are made.Show less
This thesis is about the viability of the Evenki language in China and Russia, and the influence of the language policies in the USSR (Union of Soviet Socialist Republics) and the PRC (People's...Show moreThis thesis is about the viability of the Evenki language in China and Russia, and the influence of the language policies in the USSR (Union of Soviet Socialist Republics) and the PRC (People's Republic of China). Evenks are originally Siberian people, who currently live in China and Russia. During the communist period the use of the language has declined. This thesis compares both language policies and draws conclusions about to what extent both languages policies have influenced the viability of the language in both countries.Show less
At the EU-Russia St. Petersburg Summit in 2003 both parties agreed to start negotiations on agreements to simplify the procedure for issuing short-stay visas between the EU and Russia with visa...Show moreAt the EU-Russia St. Petersburg Summit in 2003 both parties agreed to start negotiations on agreements to simplify the procedure for issuing short-stay visas between the EU and Russia with visa-free travel as the ultimate goal. In December 2013, Russia declared all requirements and conditions outlined in the Common Steps to be fulfilled and that it is ready to move to the next phase, which is the preparing of a draft Visa Waiver Agreement. The EU, on the other hand, doesn’t consider all conditions to be fulfilled and insists on fulfilling all technical requirements before moving to the next phase. Therefore the main question that was posed: are the respective benefits and constraints of the EU and Russia related to visa liberalization mutually exclusive? From this research it became evident that Russia is only willing to fulfil technical requirements set out in the Common Steps document. Russia is less eager to carry out organizational reforms, including reforms in home affairs and law enforcement agencies. For Russia it is important not to converge to EU’s level of liberal and democratic standards, as Russia does not want to give up its sovereignty and secure its status as a great power.Show less
This thesis examines the performance of the Russian agricultural sector between 2005 and 2015. This is done by analysing the outcomes of the predictions made by Professor Grigory Ioffe in 2005.
In this thesis I have conceptualized what is often called hybrid warfare as a deniable intervention: a military intervention by a state using covert forces as well as local insurgents, which have...Show moreIn this thesis I have conceptualized what is often called hybrid warfare as a deniable intervention: a military intervention by a state using covert forces as well as local insurgents, which have been catechized through pro-Kremlin media, to destabilize an adversary state and allow the intervening state deniability of involvement. The goal of this thesis was to determine if such a deniable intervention could be replicated by Russia in other states and therefore constitutes a regional threat. Four conditions were identified as having an influence on the efficaciousness of a deniable intervention. Consequently an empirical analysis was made to ascertain the extent to which these conditions are present in four cases: Belarus, Estonia, Latvia and Kazakhstan.Show less
This thesis seeks to analyse the official discourse by Tajikistan and Uzbekistan on the Rogun Dam issue with a constructivist approach in order to find out whether the discourse invokes conflict...Show moreThis thesis seeks to analyse the official discourse by Tajikistan and Uzbekistan on the Rogun Dam issue with a constructivist approach in order to find out whether the discourse invokes conflict rhetoric. It analyses official statements from 2012 to 2015. The Rogun Dam project is a hydropower project that was developed during Soviet times, but its construction was halted when the Soviet Union collapsed. Recently, the Tajik government announced its desire to resume the construction of the Rogun Dam in order to generate hydropower for economic purposes. Uzbekistan, as a riparian of the water flowing from Tajikistan, fiercely objected the construction plans. Therefore, the World Bank was asked to undertake feasibility studies on the hydropower project. As the feasibility studies proceeded, Uzbekistan appeared to seek different ways to oppose the construction of the Rogun Dam. In 2012, both Tajikistan and Uzbekistan appeared to be offensive towards each other in their official statements when mentioning the Rogun Dam. Over the course of time researched, tones towards each other softened. Both countries were also able to improve their bilateral relations on other issues than the Rogun Dam at the end of the period researched. Therefore, this thesis concludes that the official discourse on the Rogun Dam by Tajikistan and Uzbekistan does not invoke conflict rhetoric.Show less
