Libraries

 

The following is a select list of Russian research institutes specializing in subjects related to Russia’s geopolitics and foreign policies. It was compiled with the following question in mind: who plots and articulates the paths that contemporary Russia takes in its pursuit of geopolitical interests? Doubtless, it would be difficult to imagine any decisions concerning Russia’s geopolitics made without the consent of such powerful groups as “siloviki” and “oligarchs” in contemporary Russia. But a familiarity with the activities and publications of these institutes would help obtain a fuller view and understanding of the process of Russian geopolitics. They have been very active in conferencing, educating, consulting, publishing on matters related to Russia’s geopolitics and foreign affairs, the results of which are growingly accessible on their websites. 

 

Akademiia Geopoliticheskikh Problem (1999- ): Non-governmental institute specializing in geopolitics of Russia.

Fond "Edinstvo vo Imia Rossii" (2003- ): Actively communicates with the governing elite with policy inputs.

Fond "Nasledie Evrazii" (2004- ): Broad interest in the SNG countries.

Fond "Novaia Evraziia" (2004- ): Research and philanthropic activities focusing on the social development of the SNG countries.

Fond El'tsina (2000- ): Research, education, publishing related to Russia under President Yeltsin.

Fond "Liberal'naia Missiia" (2000- ): Propagation of liberal agenda in Russia through research, public discussions, publishing.

INO-TSentr (Informatsiia. Nauka. Obrazovanie) (2002- ): Philanthropic organization promoting the democratic values through the development of the humanities and social sciences. Many of the titles in the series "Islam v Rossii" (2007- ) are available online on its website.

Institut Afriki RAN (1959- ): African studies institute under the Russian Academy of Sciences.

Institut Blizhnego Vostoka (1993- ): Independent Near Eastern studies institute.

Institut Dal'nego Vostoka RAN (1966- ): Far Eastern studies institute under the Russian Academy of Sciences.

Institut Ekonomicheskogo Analiza (1994- ): Liberal-leaning economic research institute run by a former Putin aid turned oppositionist, Andrei Illarionov (1961- ).

Institut Ekonomicheskoi Politiki imeni E. T. Gaidar (Institut Gaidara) (1990- ):
Specializes in the economic policies of the Russian government.

Institut Evropy RAN (1987- ): European studies institute under the Russian Academy of Sciences.

Institut Latinskoi Ameriki RAN: Latin American studies institute under the Russian Academy of Sciences.

Institut Mirovoi Ekonomiki i Mezhdunarodnykh Otnoshenii RAN (1925- ): Probably one of the most important research institutes, in relation to the topic "Post-Communist Russia and the world," for what it tells about how Russia sees itself and the world.

Institut Obshchestvennogo Proektirovaniia (2004- ): "Liberal-conservative" research institute connected with Edinaia Rossiia.

Institut Politicheskogo i Voennogo Analiza (1996- ): Involved in election campaign consulting, with its research specialties in geopolitics, history, and military affairs.

Institut Prava i Publichnoi Politiki (1993- ): Research institute of liberal-democratic stripe specializing in international law and comparative constitutional law.

Institut Problem Mezhdunarodnoi Bezopasnosti RAN (1999- ): Multidisciplinary approach to national and international security issues. Provides access to several interesting official documents such as "Kontseptsiia natsional'noi bezopasnosti" (2000).

Institut Sovremennogo Razvitiia (2008- ): Relatively new, frequently quoted by the acronym INSOR, research institute supporting D. Medvedev's modernization agenda.

Institut SShA i Kanady RAN (1967- ): North American studies institute under the Russian Academy of Sciences. The research-guide style electronic library on its website is particularly notable.

Institut Stran SNG (Institut Diaspory i Integratsii) (1996- ): Articulation of Russia's interests in the former Soviet seems to summarize well its research focus.

Institut Strategicheskikh Otsenok i Analiza (2000- ): Its quarterly Vestnik analitiki (2001- ), accessible on the website, should be quite pertinent to the topic of this research guide.

Moskovskii Tsentr Karnegi: Fond Karnegi za Mezhdunarodnyi Mir: One of the four overseas subdivisions of the Washington-based Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.

PIR-TSentr (TSentr Politicheskikh Issledovanii Rossii) (1994- ): Engages in research in international disarmament and prevention of WMD. It publishes a bilingual quarterly Indeks bezopasnosti (1994- ).

Rossiiskii Institut Strategicheskikh Issledovanii (1992- ): Government research institute specializing in national security and foreign policies. It publishes a quarterly Problemy natsional'noi strategii (2009- ).

Rossiiskii Sovet po Mezhdunarodnym Delam (2010- ): Kremlin-created state council that seems more readily recognizable by the line-up of its board of trustees (headed by Evgenii Primakov) than its scholarly productivity (a few working papers, reports, and monographs). But its website is well-organized and well-curated as a guide to resources about Russia's foreign affairs.

Sovet po Vneshnei i Oboronnoi Politiki (1992- ): Council that grew out of an initiative of the Russian upper classes to steer Russia's future after the collapse of the Soviet Union. Its scholarly and publishing activities seem to be well chronicled, and their results accessible, on its website.

TSentr Analiza Strategii i Tekhnologii (1997- ): Research in defense industry and military technology. Publishes a bimonthly Eksport vooruzhenii.

TSentr Energetiki i Bezopasnosti (2008- ): Research in atomic energy and non-proliferation of nuclear arms. Publishes Iadernyi klub.

TSentr Issledovanii Postindustrial'nogo Obshchestva (1997- ): Engages mainly in ideological and theoretical research about "post-industrial society." It publishes the monthly Svobodnaia mysl' that continues Kommunist (1952-1991).

TSentr Kurginiana (1990- ): Founder Sergei Ervandovich Kurginian (1949- ) is a left-patriotic intellectual critical of Perestroika and the Orange Revolution. Among its publications is the multidisciplinary bimonthly Rossiia XXI (2000- ).

TSentr Mezhdunarodnogo Sotrudnichestva po Razvitiu Obrazovaniia (2008- ): Russian-led initiative (hatched after the 2006 G-8 meeting in St. Petersburg) in partnership with the World Bank for international cooperation in education.

TSentr Politicheskikh Tekhnologii: Commercial company providing political and business consultation and PR campaigns.

TSentr Politicheskoi Informatsii (1992- ): Commercial consulting company.

TSentr Problemnogo Analiza i Gosudarstvenno-Upravlencheskogo Proektirovaniia: Under the banner of "social humanism" (sotsial'nyi gumanizm) it engages in research related to social development and better governance. It publishes among others a monthly Rossiiskie politicheskie praktiki (2006- ), accessible--like many of the center's publications--online on the website.

TSentr Strategicheskikh Razrabotok (1999- ): Its launch was closely related to the development of the Russian government's "Strategiia sotsial'no-ekonomicheskogo razvitiia RF do 2010 goda" in 2000. It still specializes in issues related to the modernization or socio-political reform of Russia.