This thesis provides a comprehensive exploration of the anarchistic perspective on the seminal event known as the Kronstadt uprising in 1921, widely acknowledged as one of the pivotal anti...Show moreThis thesis provides a comprehensive exploration of the anarchistic perspective on the seminal event known as the Kronstadt uprising in 1921, widely acknowledged as one of the pivotal anti-Bolshevik movements in the aftermath of the Russian Revolution. The research delves into the evolution and significance of anarchistic discourses, scrutinizing a diverse assortment of primary sources such as seminal book publications and contemporary newspaper issues. The objective is to unfold and dissect the layered perceptions and narratives, contributing to a deeper, multi-faceted understanding of this historical event within the context of anarchistic ideology.Show less
This thesis desires to undertake an analysis of Russian cinematic portrayals of Grigory Rasputin. It attempts to build upon David Gillespie's conviction that the Russian historical film is just as...Show moreThis thesis desires to undertake an analysis of Russian cinematic portrayals of Grigory Rasputin. It attempts to build upon David Gillespie's conviction that the Russian historical film is just as apt at detailing the present as the past, and so the analysis of each film hopes to highlight how the relevant portrayal of Rasputin can also reflect the political intricacies around the time of the film's production. The thesis first looks at Elem Klimov's film 'Agonia' from 1975. It then details Irakli Kvirikadze's 2012 film 'Rasputin.' Lastly, the thesis sees an analysis of Andrey Malyukov's 8 part TV series entitled 'Grigory R' from 2014.Show less
Anna Croiset van der Kop was the first Dutch slavicist. In Russia she was a well-known and celebrated scientist. To the Dutch academic world, however, she was a relatively unknown outsider . Around...Show moreAnna Croiset van der Kop was the first Dutch slavicist. In Russia she was a well-known and celebrated scientist. To the Dutch academic world, however, she was a relatively unknown outsider . Around 1910 she tried to become the first female Dutch professor at Leiden University. She and her supporters managed to secure the endowment for the professorship, but the title was bestowed on someone else. This thesis tries to explain why Croiset van der Kop was so successfull in Russia, but failed to reach her ultimate goal in the Netherlands. This is a story about women's history in the Netherlands and Russia and about the different in- and exclusion mechanisms in the Russian and Dutch academic world.Show less
The political history and lived experience of Russians in the Baltic states of Latvia and Estonia plausibly constitutes an historic example of civic Othering. The hybrid, multi-layered identities...Show moreThe political history and lived experience of Russians in the Baltic states of Latvia and Estonia plausibly constitutes an historic example of civic Othering. The hybrid, multi-layered identities and subjective perceptions of nationality amongst these communities have been covered by academic research. At the same time, Latvia and Estonia have engaged in the political dialogue of ‘Europeanization’ as Member States of the European Union, as part of a top-down process to understand and, at times, promote a common ‘European identity’, which has also been frequent analyzed and discussed in academic literature. While both these aspects of research have been extensive, there has been less contemporary investigation at their crossroads: European identity amongst Russians in Estonia and Latvia. This paper performs a ‘research synthesis’ type of meta-analysis on academic and policy papers to shed light on this potential gap between academic literature and policy research. Its conclusions have implications for researchers and practitioners of both kinds, as well as grounds to consider the gap as a form of ‘methodological Othering’ itself.Show less
Since the Euromaidan uprising of 2013-2014, Ukrainian political leaders have made serious commitments to strengthening ties between Ukraine and the EU, and this is one of the main guiding...Show moreSince the Euromaidan uprising of 2013-2014, Ukrainian political leaders have made serious commitments to strengthening ties between Ukraine and the EU, and this is one of the main guiding principles for contemporary Ukrainian politics. This thesis seeks to understand how a pro-European attitude is reflected in the everyday, private living space of ordinary Ukrainians, which was and often still is heavily influenced by the Soviet past, but is moving toward Europe along with the rest of Ukrainian society. This thesis explores what the ‘European life’ means for Ukrainians living in Kyiv, and aims to understand how the generally pro-European political orientation in Ukraine is reflected in the construction of new housing and the desires Ukrainians have for their living space.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
This thesis set out to study Andrei Kurkov’s role as a writer within Ukraine’s alleged postcolonial condition. Firstly, I analysed the relationship between Ukraine and postcolonialism with regard...Show moreThis thesis set out to study Andrei Kurkov’s role as a writer within Ukraine’s alleged postcolonial condition. Firstly, I analysed the relationship between Ukraine and postcolonialism with regard to Russia. Secondly, I applied this theoretical framework, especially the concept of hybridity, on the public statements and political opinions of Andrei Kurkov. This thesis has found that Andrei Kurkov fits perfectly the postcolonial frame and can be called a postcolonial writer. The main feature which defines him as such is the fact that he promotes the official recognition of the Russian language as a Ukrainian specificity. Such proposition aims at solving mechanisms of cultural dependency between Ukraine and Russia. Ultimately, I argue that this recognition can positively influence the role of Russian-speaking writers in Ukraine.Show less
This thesis provides an insight in the Belarusian foreign policy response to the self-proclaimed independence of Abkhazia. The conclusion of the research question: "how has Belarusian foreign...Show moreThis thesis provides an insight in the Belarusian foreign policy response to the self-proclaimed independence of Abkhazia. The conclusion of the research question: "how has Belarusian foreign policy responded to the case of Abkhazia’s self-proclaimed independence?" is that the response can be divided into three time periods of ignoring, partially recognizing and opposing Abkhazia. The main causes identified for the way Belarus responded can be found in the EU - Russia conflict rather than the Abkhazian case individually.Show less
This thesis looked at the importance of oil in the economic performance of Belarus. In particular, it assessed how the Belarus, a country with no significant oil resources within its borders,...Show moreThis thesis looked at the importance of oil in the economic performance of Belarus. In particular, it assessed how the Belarus, a country with no significant oil resources within its borders, turned into a de-facto oil dependent economy.Show less
An overview of the Belarusian foreign policy of the past 5 years not including the ongiong situation on Ukraine. Looking with mostly realist views at the evolution of the Belarusian foreign policy,...Show moreAn overview of the Belarusian foreign policy of the past 5 years not including the ongiong situation on Ukraine. Looking with mostly realist views at the evolution of the Belarusian foreign policy, this paper has found, that Belarus has, after a period of decline in relations, been slowly looking to rekindle past relations.Show less
The question of Russian national identity has become quite significant again after the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991. Especially after Vladimir Putin came to power and the country regained its...Show moreThe question of Russian national identity has become quite significant again after the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991. Especially after Vladimir Putin came to power and the country regained its political and military strength, the Russian state embarked on the (sometimes ambiguous) road of nation-building. Scholars of nationalism and Russian national identity have tried to analyze this ‘Russian Question’, whereby most concluded that there is not a coherent Russian national identity. In this sense, it is useful to look at national identity in some of Russia’s specific regions. This thesis analyzes this process in the case of Russia’s most-western region, Kaliningrad. This so-called exclave has only been part of Russian since the Second World War and due to its German history and geographical distance from homeland Russia, it occupies a special position inside the country. In the process of nation-building by the Russian state, officials cannot solely use ‘common’ Russian markers of identity but also have to take Kaliningrad’s ‘particular’ circumstances into account. This thesis therefore argues that the Russian nation-building process in Kaliningrad lies ‘between commonality and particularity’. It will analyze this two-sidedness through the symbolic, military and anti-Western dimensions of nation-building in Kaliningrad; the speeches and statements of Russian officials in this light are used as the main points of analysis.Show less
In this thesis, the development of the East-Slavic languages has been investigated through the analysis of various written sources on a multitude of morphological scoring criteria. The thesis aims...Show moreIn this thesis, the development of the East-Slavic languages has been investigated through the analysis of various written sources on a multitude of morphological scoring criteria. The thesis aims at finding evidence that can either prove or disprove some of the many theories with respect to the evolution of the East-Slavic languages (these theories are also included in the thesis). The theories that are discussed in the thesis differ with respect to how much credit is given to the Polish language in the development of East-Slavic. Therefore, investigating whether or not Polish did play a role in the language development of the East-Slavic area provides us with material that can make certain theories more plausible than others. Various texts - the oldest dating to 1229 and the youngest texts to the 19th century - were analysed and scored on present and past verb inflection, the use of auxiliary verbs and the declension of the nominative adjective (thereby paying special attention to the possibility of gender distinction in nominative plural).Show less
During the last half of the nineteenth century, major European colonial powers tended to see society as something that was malleable and that the state should act as a ‘’gardener of society’’...Show moreDuring the last half of the nineteenth century, major European colonial powers tended to see society as something that was malleable and that the state should act as a ‘’gardener of society’’ rooting out ‘’weeds’’ in the ‘’social body’’ wherever they are through the use of military statistics, surveillance, deportation and the use of force among other things. This idea of social engineering became conceptually and practicably possible only with the rising concern through the last half of the nineteenth century for the social realm and the emergence of technologies for acting upon this realm. This thesis is about how the Bolsheviks, inspired by these ideas, used violence as an instrument in applying social engineering and the fashioning of a new (Soviet) social body during the Russian Civil War. The subject of this thesis is the Cheka, the first Bolshevik secret police and security agency, and its leader Feliks Dzerzhinsky, and takes as its starting point that these actors might have played a crucial role in the execution of the so-called ‘’gardening state’’ and the use of violence in achieving a ‘’pure’’ Soviet social body in which ‘’contaminating elements’’ have been excised. I will show to what extent the Cheka conceptualised and operated on society through techniques of violence during the Russian Civil War. I argue that the Cheka and its leader Feliks Dzerzhinsky played a prominent role in the execution of the ‘’gardening state’’ that the Bolsheviks were in the process of shaping. Both their conceptualisation in language as well as their violent performances can be deducted as partly the result of envisioning the Soviet social body to be a supposed utopia, that required the excising of unreliable, unwanted or dangerous elements. These elements were plentiful, and in the end, the classification of what was considered malign could be extended to those individuals considered allies of the Bolsheviks, or even Bolsheviks themselves. However, deviations by both Dzerzhinsky and his chekisty occurred on multiple occasions in relation to cleansing society of elements. It is these deviations that call into question to what extent the Cheka thought the ‘’gardening state’’ should go, in its efforts to mold the population.Show less
This thesis explores the compounded effect of the three biggest changes in the the current global energy system on the Russian gas export market and strategy. The three changes identified are the...Show moreThis thesis explores the compounded effect of the three biggest changes in the the current global energy system on the Russian gas export market and strategy. The three changes identified are the globalization of the gas market, the rise of renewable energy sources and lower oil prices for longer. We argue that in light of these changes, the current strategy behind Russia's gas exports is no longer sustainable in terms of maintaining its position as a dominant player in the global gas market. However, if Russia were to alter its strategy, its market might yet benefit from the new status quo and ensure its dominant position for a long time to come.Show less
This thesis seeks to analyse the institutional framework guiding Russia’s growing interest in Arctic development. In particular, the research aimed to answer the question: How much agency do the...Show moreThis thesis seeks to analyse the institutional framework guiding Russia’s growing interest in Arctic development. In particular, the research aimed to answer the question: How much agency do the constituent entities of the Russian Federation have in the socio-economic development of the Arctic? The focus of the research is on transport infrastructure, the reason being that Arctic development hinges on the creation of an effective transport system so that other, more lucrative economic interests can be accessed and exploited. The research engaged with the legislative and strategic documents of both the federal authorities and the regions through a doctrinal analysis of policy mechanisms. The thesis contends that regions do have significant agency in the development of transport infrastructure, in so far as said transport infrastructure forms a part of the Support Zone mechanism. In doing so, the thesis shows that the Arctic regions enjoy the independence necessary to identify areas of economic interest in their regions, formulate a cluster of development projects, implement a corresponding program, and monitor the program’s progress. Additionally, the thesis was able to identify the limits of regional agency, which exist depending on the importance of a given socio-economic development project to the federal authorities. We see this determinant in practice in the hierarchical distinction between the Northern Sea Route and the land-based transport systems (including river and air transport). Due to the geopolitical potential of the Northern Sea Route, it occupies a place of supreme importance in Arctic development, and is therefore governed by the Centre. In contrast, land-based transport systems are principally of national, and economic importance, and thus their development is delegated to the regions.Show less
During the turbulent years of de-Stalinization a lot changed in the Soviet society. Tensions of the Cold War eased and the publication of contemporary foreign literature was possible again. The...Show moreDuring the turbulent years of de-Stalinization a lot changed in the Soviet society. Tensions of the Cold War eased and the publication of contemporary foreign literature was possible again. The American novel 'The Catcher in the Rye' by J.D. Salinger made quite and impression on the Soviet reader. This thesis discusses the reception of this American youth novel in Soviet Russia through letters and documents found at the Russian Archive of Literature and Art.Show less
Since the dissolution of the Soviet Union, Central Asia has seen less conflict than initially expected. One of the anticipated sources of conflict has been the uneven distribution of natural...Show moreSince the dissolution of the Soviet Union, Central Asia has seen less conflict than initially expected. One of the anticipated sources of conflict has been the uneven distribution of natural resources between the five states. The theory of the relationship between resource abundance and scarcity and conflict are examined here and applied to the distribution of hydrocarbon and water resources in the region. Though especially water has become a serious issue in the region, it is concluded that it is as yet not acute enough to spark interstate conflict and dependence management policies that might spark internal conflict is largely not followed. However, should the situation continue to worsen or be compounded with other causes for conflict, this status quo may change.Show less
