Russian Studies: Historical, Social and Cultural Foundations and Current Trends

ФЕДЕРАЛЬНОЕ ГОСУДАРСТВЕННОЕ БЮДЖЕТНОЕ ОБРАЗОВАТЕЛЬНОЕ 
УЧРЕЖДЕНИЕ ВЫСШЕГО ОБРАЗОВАНИЯ 
«РОССИЙСКАЯ АКАДЕМИЯ НАРОДНОГО ХОЗЯЙСТВА И ГОСУДАРСТВЕННОЙ 
СЛУЖБЫ ПРИ ПРЕЗИДЕНТЕ РОССИЙСКОЙ ФЕДЕРАЦИИ» 
ВОЛГОГРАДСКИЙ ИНСТИТУТ УПРАВЛЕНИЯ 
 
 
 
 
Е. В. Степанова, О. В. Лукьяновская 
 
 
RUSSIAN STUDIES: 
Historical, Social and Cultural Foundations 
and Current Trends 
 
Учебное пособие 
 
Направления подготовки: 38.03.04 «Государственное и муниципальное, управление», 
37.03.01 «Психология», 38.03.01 «Экономика» 39.03.01 Социология». 37.03.01 «Психология», 
37.05.02 «Психология служебной деятельности», 40.03.01 «Юриспруденция»,  
38.05.01 «Экономическая безопасность» 
 
Волгоград, 2024 
 

УДК 008(470)(075.8)  
ББК 60.00+71.05(2Рос)я73 
     С 79 
 
 
 
Р е ц е н з е н т ы : 
кандидат филологических наук, доцент И. Г. Сидорова, доцент кафедры иностранных языков 
с курсом латинского языка Института общественного здоровья им. Н. П. Григоренко,  
ФГБОУ ВО ВолгГМУ Минздрава России; 
кандидат филологических наук О. И. Попова, доцент кафедры теории и практики перевода  
и лингвистики ФГАОУ ВО «Волгоградский государственный университет» 
 
Степанова Е. В., Лукьяновская О. В. 
С 79 
 
Russian Studies: Historical, Social and Cultural Foundations and Current 
Trends: учебное пособие / Е. В. Степанова, О. В. Лукьяновская; Волгоградский институт управления – филиал РАНХиГС. – Волгоград: Изд-во Волгоградского института управления – филиала РАНХиГС, 2024. – Систем. требования: Процессор Intel® 
или AMD с частотой не менее 1.5 ГГц; Операционная система семейства 
MicrosoftWindows или macOS; Оперативная память 2 ГБ оперативной памяти; 
AdobeReader 6.0. – Загл. с экрана. – 64 с. 
 
 
Данное учебное пособие предназначено для иностранных студентов, обучающихся в российских вузах, иностранных слушателей довузовских курсов подготовки, а также российских студентов, обучающихся по направлениям подготовки: 
38.03.04 «Государственное и муниципальное, управление», 37.03.01 «Психология», 
38.03.01 «Экономика» 39.03.01 Социология». 37.03.01 «Психология», 37.05.02 «Психология служебной деятельности», 40.03.01 «Юриспруденция», 38.05.01 «Экономическая безопасность», и нацелено на синтез представлений о российской цивилизации и русской духовной культуре, истории, геополитической роли России, а также 
выработку профессиональных языковых компетенций. 
Пособие составлено на английском языке и состоит из 6 разделов, посвященных широкому кругу тем по вопросам россиеведения, истории, культуры, права, 
экономики, геополитики. Разделы могут изучаться в предлагаемой последовательности или выборочно, в зависимости от целей, задач и уровня подготовки обучающихся. 
 
  
 
ISBN 978-5-7786-0890-0 
 
 
 
© Степанова Е. В., Лукьяновская О. В., 2024 
© Волгоградский институт управления – 
     филиал ФГБОУ ВО РАНХиГС, 2024 

 
 
 
CONTENTS 
 
 
 
Introduction ................................................................................................................................. 4 
 
 
Chapter 1. RUSSIAN DIVERSITY: NATURAL, CULTURAL AND HISTORICAL DIVERSITY  
OF RUSSIA ................................................................................................................... 5 
 
Chapter 2. ORDEALS AND VICTORIES OF RUSSIA .......................................................................... 18 
 
Chapter 3. RUSSIAN PHILOSOPHY, WORLDVIEW AND VALUE CONSTANTS  
OF RUSSIAN CIVILIZATION ......................................................................................... 27 
 
Chapter 4. POLITICAL AND STATE STRUCTURE OF RUSSIA ............................................................ 36 
 
Chapter 5. RUSSIAN ECONOMY: MODERN HISTORY AND THE 21ST CENTURY TRENDS .................. 45 
 
 
Chapter 6. CURRENT GLOBAL TRENDS AND RUSSIAN SOCIETY .................................................... 52 
 
 
Final test and Essays assignment ........................................................................................ 58 
 
References ................................................................................................................................. 63 
 
 
 

Introduction 
 
 
 
The textbook “Russian Studies: Historical, Social and Cultural Foundations and Modern 
Trends” is aimed at international students studying at Russian universities, students of preuniversity training courses, as well as Russian students studying in the following areas of training: 
03.38.04 “Public and Municipal Administration”, 03.37.01 “Psychology”, 03.38.01 “Economics”, 
03.39.01 “Sociology”, 05.37.02 “Work and Organization Psychology”, 03.40.01 “Law”, 05.38.01 
“Economic Security”. The textbook is focused on the synthesis of ideas about Russian civilization 
and Russian culture, natural science and humanitarian knowledge about it, geopolitical role of Russia, as well as the development of professional competencies in the English language. The textbook 
is designed for individuals who master Standard English grammar and have a vocabulary of 2000 
lexical units. 
The purpose of this textbook is to teach students regional studies, culture, history, social and 
legal structure, economy of Russia, professional communication in English, as well as the development of intercultural communication skills. Mandatory steps to complete the task are the development of general cultural competencies and communication skills in students (linguistic, sociocultural, communicational, educational and cognitive areas). 
The subject of the course “Russian Studies: Historical, Social and Cultural Foundations and 
Modern Trends” for international and Russian students is the training of cultural and foreign language communicative competence as the basis of professional activity in a foreign language, historical, practical and encyclopedic competencies necessary for professional communication in the 
country of residence and training, which involves solving the following learning tasks: mastery of 
language material, including the expansion of vocabulary through professional vocabulary; improving the skills of reading literature in the specialty in English in order to obtain professionally highquality information; development of skills in working with professional information in a foreign 
language. 
Structurally, this textbook is a series of chapters organized thematically. The subject matter 
and nature of the educational materials presented in the textbook allow students to learn about Russian civilization and Russian spiritual culture, philosophy, history, political and state structure, 
global economic and political position of Russia as well as reading skills within the framework of 
Russian studies. 
The lecture course “Russian Studies: Historical, Social and Cultural Foundations and Current Trends” is publicly available on YouTube. The final part of the textbook includes tests and essays assignment. 
 

Chapter 1 
RUSSIAN DIVERSITY 
 
 
 
 
Natural, climatic, national and religious diversity of Russia 
Russia is a country with a long history, rich cultural heritage and generous nature. However, 
modern Russia is primarily characterized by its achievements and glorified by its heroes. This chapter will be devoted to figures, facts, achievements and famous Russians. 
A few facts about Russia: it is located in the northern part of the Eurasian continent. It occupies about 40 % of the area of Europe and 30 % of the area of Asia. Russia is the largest state in 
terms of its total surface area (17.1 million square kilometers); the length of Russia from west to 
east is 9,000 km and from north to south is 4,000 km. Russia spreads over 11 time zones. 
 
 
 
Fig. 1. Nature of Russia 
 
Russia has access to the waters of three oceans: the Pacific, the Arctic and the Atlantic. Its 
coastline totals 37,000 km. Rivers of Russia drain into the basins of all the oceans except the Indian. 
Russia has international borders on 18 countries (land borders with 16 countries: Norway, Finland, 
Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Belarus, Ukraine, Georgia, Abkhazia, South Ossetia, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, China, Mongolia and North Korea, and maritime boundaries with the USA and Japan).  

Степанова Е.В., Лукьяновская О.В. Russian Studies: Historical, Social and Cultural Foundations and Current Trends 
6 
Russia is a permanent member of the UN Security Council with the power to veto any resolution or decision, and is also a member of the most influential international organizations – the UN, 
G20, the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU), the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS). 
Russia is a nuclear power and one of the leading space powers in the world. Natural resource 
potential accounts for over 40 % of world reserves, estimated at more than $350 trillion. More than 
190 ethnic groups, speaking some 300 languages live within Russia’s borders.  
Russia is the birthplace of some of the greatest scientific discoveries, achievements in culture, art, sports, etc.  
The history of the Russian state goes back 1161 years.  
Milestones the Russian history: 
1. Kievan Rus. The history of the state begins with the calling of the Varangians (Vikings) 
to reign in Novgorod. Prince Rurik, grandson of Gostomysl, becomes the Prince of Novgorod 
(862–879) and the legendary progenitor (founder) of the first Russian royal Rurik dynasty. The period was marked by the introduction of Christianity, which became a significant cultural and religious event.  
2. Feudal fragmentation of 11th – 12th centuries. These were Chernigov, Smolensk, Polotsk, 
Pereyaslavl, Galician, Volyn, Ryazan, Rostov-Suzdal, Kiev principalities and Novgorod land. Each 
of the principalities not only had its own internal order, but also pursued an independent international policy. 
3. The Mongol-Tatar invasion of Rus of 13th – 14th centuries (“Dark Times”). The Mongol 
Yoke lasted about two and a half centuries, and this greatly influenced the formation of Russian 
identity and statehood. 
4. The Principality of Moscow of mid-15 – late 17 centuries. This period marks unification 
of the Russian lands around Moscow.  
5. Russian Empire starts in late the 17th and lasts up to the early 20th century. The countdown starts from Peter 1. For 200 years, the Russian Empire experienced many important moments 
and events that had an impact on the state and people (reforms, numerous wars, the Decembrist uprising, the First World War, February and October revolutions). 
6. The Soviet State – from February 1917 to December 1991. Created by the Bolsheviks, 
Soviet Russia became the Soviet Union, and in the course of the 20th century Russia became one of 
the two global superpowers.  
7. The Russian Federation, from December 1991 up to the present moment. 
What is unique about the Russian state? The historical path of Russia is undoubtedly unique, 
marked by numerous glorious moments of bravery of the Russian people and countless attempts on 
the part of our enemies to deprive the Russian state of its sovereignty, which never succeeded.  
 
Natural and Climatic Uniqueness of Russia 
The natural conditions and geography of the Russian (East European) Plain became the major factor in the development of the Russian people and the state. The same conditions, only in an 
even more extreme version, occur in the later integrated Siberia, which, together with the Russian 
Plain, makes up the bulk of Russian territory.  
Natural and geographical factors still have a huge impact on the development of Russia, even 
though the development of economics and technology over the past 1000 years has significantly transformed the nature of many regions of Russia and reduced the influence of a number of natural factors. 

Chapter 1. Russian Diversity: Natural, Cultural and Historical Diversity of Russia 
7 
 
 
Fig. 2. Russian Geography 
 
Huge size and remoteness of natural boundaries 
● The seas are geographically far from the center of the country. 
● Relatively low population density has both its pros and cons. Disadvantages include high 
transport and infrastructure costs, difficulties in economic exchange; however, there are some advantages: lower mortality as a result of epidemics, fewer social conflicts over resources and land, 
safe development of large cities, economic centers, etc. 
● It is difficult to conquer such a vast territory. Firstly, autumn and spring season of bad 
roads in muddy condition which makes travel on unpaved roads problematic and even impossible. 
Secondly, Russia has a huge territory which makes it difficult not just to pass its 11 time zones, but 
to keep troops well-fed, safe and sound while doing so. 
Furthermore, winter in most of Russia is harsh. Another important factor is the terrain itself: 
thick forests and swamps make it difficult to hinder military advance. 
The absence of significant natural barriers in the center of the Russian Plain, the comparative monotony of its landscape and relief, the similarity of climate and economic activity in most of 
the territory contributed to the constant interaction and unification of various tribes into a single 
Russian people. 
Branched rivers network. Almost the entire territory of the Russian Plain is covered with a 
network of river systems. The rivers became the basis for the settlement of the Slavs and the political division of Rus. Later, principalities and domains were formed along the rivers and confluents. 
Russia`s position between Europe and Asia. Russia`s relation to Occident and Orient has 
led to the fact that the history of Russia has always been influenced by various European and Asian 
peoples, traditions, and technologies. Russia rightfully perceives itself as a Eurasian power which 
participated both in European and Asian affairs.