Algorithms to Address Complex Collisions of Law

The paper describes the conceptual algorithm model to address complex collisions of law (conflicts of law) that arise due to coincidence of collisions. Based on the functional interpretation of the conflicts of law, the author describes a three-level taxonomy of such conflicts in terms of the prescriptive criterion: at the first level, the conflicts of law are divided into objectively solvable and objectively unsolvable (absolute) ones. At the second level, the objectively solvable conflicts of law are subdivided into inter-legal (spatial) and intra-legal ones. The latter, in their turn, are subdivided into hierarchical, conceptual and temporal conflicts of law. However, the coincidence of law conflicts may only occur between intra-legal collisions. The author demonstrates the interrelation between the universal and specific historical aspects to determine the criteria for selecting the applicable law in case of various conflicts of law. It is noted that in the context of the modern hierarchically organized legal system there is a hierarchy of collision maxims: first — lex superior, second — lex specialis, and third — lex posterior. The paper provides a model of the scientifically grounded algorithm for addressing conflicts of law in a situation of their coincidence, taking into account various strategies.

Happiness as an Interdisciplinary Construct: Options for Sociological Conceptualization and Operationalization

The project seeks to clarify the conceptual and operational definitions of happiness to be referred to in empirical sociological studies, and to systematize methodological approaches to the sociological analysis of happiness, outlining the cognitive potential and limitations of these approaches. Conceptually, the project indicates that the achievements to date can be grouped into two conventional areas of further studies: the objectivistic econometric approach (happiness indices based on social and economic indices) and the subjectivistic social and psychological approach (self-assessments in terms of happiness derived from public surveys). In terms of methods, the authors of the project organized the indicators and methods used in the empirical study of happiness, allowing the use of diverse survey tools in the observational studies aimed at identifying commonplace perception of happiness and adequately “measuring” its level.

Images of “Other Countries” in Today’s Worldview of Russian Citizens

This paper analyses the images of other countries as seen by Russian citizens. The author contemplates how the Russians perceive neighbouring countries, the strategic partners (India and China), certain European states and the European Union as a whole, as well as the United States, Turkey, and Thailand. Notwithstanding the differences in the images of these countries perceived by the Russians, they share certain similarities. First of all, those images feature some poor awareness, reflecting how ill-informed we are. The study shows that nowadays our fellow citizens know less about the world than before, and their spectrum of interests is narrower. Following the Western media, the Russian media and Internet focus on a limited number of “important” countries, ignoring the majority of the global states. Second, three decades of travel freedom influenced the worldview of millions of the Russians. Their perception of the world grew more coherent and adequate; however, it still lacks consistency and cognitive clearness. Evidently, personal experience is not sufficient to form such a vision of the global world that includes both awareness and a system of values shaped in consideration of the national interests. And third, the Russian society is not homogeneous in its perception of foreign nations. There are senior people and social groups that have largely retained idealized concepts of the world formed in the early post-Soviet period. Namely, those, who were politically socialized in late 1980s and early 1990s, as well as the intellectual elite.

Russia in the Holy Land. Figures and Institutions of Russian Palestine (in the 19th and 20th Centuries)

Russian Palestine is not only a unique religious phenomenon that encompasses a complex infrastructure of Russian churches, monasteries, lands and farmsteads, but also the political, spiritual, scientific and humanitarian presence of Russia in the Holy Land in its entirety. That is, the writings by the Russian diplomats, officials of consulates and embassies, representatives of the Russian Orthodox Church (Mount of Olives Ascension Monastery, Gorny Convent and Gethsemane monastery, clerical pilgrims), the royal family and the ruling elite (august pilgrims, benefactors, governors of the Middle East policy), figures of the Palestinian Committee (1859–1864), the Palestinian Commission (1864–1889), the Russian Orthodox Mission in Jerusalem (1847–2010), the Imperial Orthodox Palestine Society (1882), pilgrims and travellers of the 19th–20th centuries, writers, artists, architects and orientalists. The study’s goal is to bridge significant gaps in the national historiography by presenting the most complete overview of the history, heritage, and contributions of Russia and Russian people to the culture of the Orthodox East – the present-day peoples of Israel and Palestine. As part of these studies, the authors will issue an academic compendium of Russian institutions and public figures who have contributed to strengthening ties between Russia and the Middle East.

Discovery and Early Studies of the Post-Dolmen Burial Site near Sevastopolskaya Village

The paper provides a summary of the results of early studies carried out within the archeo­logical complex near Sevastopolskaya village (the Republic of Adygea) discovered in 2019. The site includes a settlement and a dolmen-mound burial. In 2020, the archeologists studied Sevastopolsky-35 mound — a frame box under a rock fill, as well as a re-used dolmen (Sevastopolsky-41). The authors believe the discovered objects are so-called post-dolmen monuments of the Middle Bronze Age (Shushuk-I period). The objects are pre-dated 28th–24th cent. B.C.

Anniversary of the USSR Academy of Sciences in the Victorious 1945: Idea, Celebration Scenario, International Response

The authors focus on the celebration of the 220th anniversary of the USSR Academy of Sciences in 1945. The festive events hosted both due to the anniversary, joyful victory and cease of warfare in Europe were attended by 124 delegates from 17 countries, as well as by nearly 1,000 Soviet academics. The situation was unique in its concept and inspired people with hope for world reconstruction. The occasion was widely publicized, eliciting an extensive response. The anniversary served an occasion to organize the forum where academics discussed their perception of science field in the victorious year of 1945. Based on a wide range of sources, including foreign archives first introduced to the academia, the paper presents the scenarios of the celebration of the 220th anniversary of the USSR Academy of Sciences, as well as the images of the Russian and Soviet science represented by the academic elite, and their perception by the international scientific community. The authors reveal the factors that influence the establishment and functioning of the communicative field of global science. It is concluded that in a contextual way the anniversary events featured the overestima­ted expectations of new forms of international cooperation, with various forms of collaboration being discussed. However, the triumph over the “unified science” and the establishment of the universal communicative field was temporary.

II December Socio-Political Readings — “How Are You, Russia? The Russian Social State and Civil Society in 2020: The Implementation of National Projects in a Post-Pandemic Reality” (Moscow, December 10, 2020)

The paper presents the results of the II December Socio-Political Readings — “‘How Are You, Russia?’ The Russian Social State and Civil Society in 2020: The Implementation of National Projects in a Post-Pandemic Reality”. The National Research-to-Practice Conference with international participation was held by the Institute of Socio-Political Research and the Institute of Demographic Studies of the Federal Research Sociological Center of the Russian Academy of Sciences in cooperation with the Faculty of Political Science of the Lomonosov Moscow State University and the Sociology Department of the Russian State University for the Humanities. The event was held in December 2020 in face-to-face/remote formats at the Institute of Socio-Political Research — Branch of the Federal Center of Theoretical and Applied Sociology of the Russian Academy of Sciences. The Readings were attended by the leading academics and young researchers of Moscow and regional research institutes and universities, as well as foreign scientists. The papers provided the analysis of current social, socio-political, social and cultural, demographic problems within the focus of academics, politicians, entrepreneurs, and civil society. The scientific discussion provided an opportunity to address and approve the best socio-political, and demographic models and development patterns, considering the revealed COVID pandemic factors.

Censorial History of Provincial Journalism (on the Materials of Periodical Press of the Ante-revolutionary Tomsk Province)

The paper studies the specifics of censorship control over journalism in Tomsk province in the 19th–early 20th centuries revealed through studying censorship files of the Russian State Historical Archive and the State Archive of the Tomsk Region. The authors substantiate the relevance of the study, present a brief overview of the previous writings and sources, disclose the study stages, and provide general conclusions on the study. The specifics of journalistic censorship in Tomsk province, which serves as a provincial periodical press model in this study, include, first, its “lag” from the metropolitan censorship processes. The officials who exercised censorship in the provinces lacked high qualification; therefore, they were either unreasonably strict or overly liberal. The archive files contain evidence of constant disputes between editors and censors, as well as complaints regarding censorship procedures that were handled by the Chief Office of the Press. The situation improved with the appointment of a single censor in Tomsk. Thanks to his work, the process of cooperation with editorial boards was streamlined, and reports started to provide valuable details on circulation and the staff of Tomsk periodicals. Second, the censorship cases with respect to journalism in Tomsk province revealed the idea of Tomsk provincialism, which permeated the cultural environment of ante-revolutionary Siberia. This makes the study of archive files an important step in restoring a complete picture of the development of Siberian society and journalism.

International Academic Collaborations within “Big Science” Projects

The paper covers the approaches, legal aspects and some specifics of establishing international scientific collaboration in modern ‘Megascience’ projects. The authors suggest two models of establishing independent international scientific collaboration, being, in fact, a particular form of international scientific and technological cooperation within ‘Megascience’ projects.