moscow

INSTITUTE OF ORIENTAL STUDIES OF THE RUSSIAN ACADEMY OF SCIENCES

On October 12, 2009, the Kurd Studies and Regional Problems Section of the Department of Near and Middle East of the Institute of Oriental Studies of the Russian Academy of Sciences held a round table on the results of the presidential and parliamentary elections in Iraqi Kurdistan held at the end of July 2009. Heads of departments took part in its work. Department of the Middle East V. Ya. Belokrenitsky, employees of the Department of Kurdish Studies and Regional Problems of the BSV O. I. Zhigalina, G. I. Starchenkov, K. V. Vertyaev and N. Z. Mosaki, leading researcher of IMEMO RAS S. M. Ivanov, expert of the Strategic Culture Foundation A. G. Areshev, Director of the Institute of the Middle East E. L. Zhigun, radio station correspondent "Voice of Russia" Yu. Sayyid, representatives of the Kurdish national and cultural autonomy of Moscow.

O. I. Zhigalina, Head of the Department of Kurdish Studies and Regional Problems of the BSV, noted the importance of the discussed event not only for the Kurdish Autonomous Region in Iraq( KAR), but also for the entire Middle East.

The representative of the Kurdistan Democratic Party (DNK) in Russia, Babakr Hoshavi, made a detailed report on the analysis of the past elections. He noted that these were democratic, multi-party elections, which cannot be called uncontested: the opposition participated in them. The voter turnout was more than 78%, and 16 thousand people watched the voting process. observers, including several hundred foreign ones. Representatives of various political forces of Iraqi Kurdistan, united mainly in 5 electoral blocs, applied for 111 mandates. The two leading political forces in the country - the Democratic Party and the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) - received the most significant political support from voters, who formed their candidates with a single electoral list ("Kurdistan List") and won convincingly in these elections, gaining 59 seats in parliament. Such a victory was expected, given the fact that it was under the current government that the Kurds were able to strengthen their autonomy, providing a noticeable economic boost to the Kurdish region in comparison with other parts of Iraq. However, this did not prevent the opposition parties and movements that participated in the elections from putting forward slogans about the need to fight corruption in the highest echelons of the Kurdistan government, and the thesis of countering authoritarian methods of government, characteristic, according to the opposition, for the current government, found support among a significant part of the protest-minded electorate.

As for the presidential election, 1,266,397 votes were cast for the current head of the autonomous region, Moshe Barzani, which was 69.6%. Barzani's closest rival was Kamal Mirawdali, a well-known Kurdish journalist and political activist who has long lived in the UK, who received 25.3% of the vote. He ran as an independent opposition candidate. His main pre-election trump card was to criticize corrupt officials from the ruling party and accuse the current head of the autonomous region of authoritarianism. Miravdali was voted for mainly by the urban population and young people. The other three candidates received a combined total of about 5% of the vote.

The participants of the round table were particularly interested in the participation of new opposition parties, blocs and movements in the elections. The experience of the parliamentary elections in Iraqi Kurdistan in 2005 showed that at that time, parties of pro-Islamic political orientation received significant support from voters (about 18%). Therefore, the pro-Islamic alliance ("Reform and Assistance List") formed for the current elections, consisting of several Islamic parties, the Kurdistan Socialist Party (PKK) and the Ayanda Party, could count on serious support from voters. However, the actual results of the elections showed that the secular opposition movement in Kurdistan is also gaining strength and is popular with the population. Created with the support of the authorities, who feared a protest vote by Kurds for Islamic parties, the secular Renewal bloc (Goran) eventually came second in the elections, winning 25 seats in the new parliament (22.5% of the vote). Mostly, the "Renewal" block, headed in the past by one of the founders of the PUK, and now by the media mogul Mustafa Nishurvani, was voted for by the urban population and young people, who-

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some were attracted by anti-corruption slogans and demands for the renewal of the country's leadership. Many in Iraq tend to view Goran as a splinter faction from the PUK, which ran in the elections on a wave of discontent among the electorate with the activities of the PUK and KDP. However, B. Hoshavi noted that the new opposition fully shares the opinion of the Kurdish authorities about the unconditional ownership of the disputed oil-bearing areas of Kirkuk to the Kurdish autonomy. Although the past elections failed to shake the monopoly of the KDP and PUK, which were united as a single bloc, the fact that the Goran bloc gained a strong support of the opposition-minded electorate indicates the success of the opposition in the past elections.

B. Hoshavi also focused on some features of the draft constitution of autonomous Kurdistan, noting that Kurdistan is recognized in it as a multinational autonomous political entity. This is confirmed by the results of the last election. Christians living in Iraqi Kurdistan received five seats in parliament, which were distributed as follows: representatives of the Alrafidain (Assyrian Democratic Movement) list - two seats and the Assyrian-Chaldean Council-three seats. Three political forces representing the KAR Turkomans entered Parliament: the Turkomans 'Democratic Movement (three seats), the Turkomans' Reform Alliance (one seat), and the Erbil Turkomans ' Alliance (one seat). According to B. Hoshavi, in the current elections to the Kurdistan Parliament, a quota was reserved for representatives of all national minorities inhabiting Kurdistan. This policy is in line with the stated priorities set out in the new draft constitution of the autonomous Kurdistan region.

According to B. Khoshavi, the draft constitution does not contradict the principles of Islam, but it does not specify that Islam is the state religion of the country. He stressed that the political elites of Iraqi Kurdistan do not pursue the goal of creating an independent state, but are in favor of maintaining the status quo within a federal, independent Iraq. The counting of ballots in the Kurdish parliamentary elections took place not in Erbil, but in Baghdad, precisely in order to emphasize the primacy of the capital and the lack of radical separatist claims among the Kurds.

As for the territorial differences between the QAR Government and Baghdad, the speaker noted, they remain unresolved even after the elections. The issue was further exacerbated after the Kurdistan Region's parliament approved a draft constitution that would also include the provinces of Diala, Kirkuk, Nineveh and Salahuddin. Territorial differences with Baghdad prevented this draft Kurdistan Region constitution from being put to a referendum.

When discussing the report of B. Hoshavi, the participants of the round table noted that the Kurdish-Arab contradictions on the problems of "oil-bearing territories", primarily Kirkuk, are the main threat to Iraq's security in the context of overcoming Sunni-Shiite tensions and the withdrawal of American troops from the country. However, B. Hoshavi noted that the necessary basis for the creation of a federal Iraq is already in place. Iraq is divided into three parts, and the Kurds are ready for certain compromises in the territorial dispute, which should be resolved with the participation of the UN.

When asked by the head of the Department of Near and Middle East V. Ya. Belokrenitsky about the assessment of the current socio-economic development of the KAR, B. Hoshavi said that there are no official statistics on the economic situation of the KAR yet. But we can talk about an obvious economic recovery associated with the loans of world banks used by the autonomy for priority economic projects, such as the construction of power plants, the organization of its own banking business, and the formation of funds for large agricultural subsidies, including for irrigation of land. Turkish business plays an important role in the country's economic life.

The participants of the round table were also interested in the position of the KAR leadership on the status of Kirkuk, which, according to the Kurds, should be part of the Kurdish autonomy. B. Hoshavi noted that the KAR authorities consider Kirkuk to be their "native Kurdish territory", and in accordance with the Iraqi constitution, the province of Kirkuk remains legally ambiguous - it cannot be called either neither included in the Kurdistan region nor excluded from it. The dispute over Kirkuk between the Kurds, ethnic Arabs and Turkmens living in this province is also the main obstacle to the adoption by the Iraqi Parliament of the law on general elections scheduled for January 2010. B. Hoshavi stressed that the KAR leadership is ready to compromise and can agree to give Kirkuk a special status, provided that it is officially approved by the Iraqi parliament. be considered a Kurdish region.

Responding to questions about the economic partnership between Kazakhstan and the Russian Federation, B. Hoshavi noted its insufficient development. However

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Gazprom's planned participation in a consortium with Turkish Petroleum in the development of oil fields in northern Iraq gives us hope that such cooperation will be further intensified.

During the discussion, new trends in the political life of Iraqi Kurdistan were revealed, first of all, the growing role of the opposition in the autonomous region, its increasing support from the country's population, which indicates the formation of a pluralistic democracy in the region. It was also noted that pro-government and opposition forces maintain their unity on all territorial issues between KAR and Baghdad, in particular on the status of Kirkuk, which, according to all political forces in the region, should be part of the Kurdish autonomy.

K. V. VERTYAEV

INSTITUTE OF AFRICA, RUSSIAN ACADEMY OF SCIENCES

On September 22, 2009, the Institute of Africa of the Russian Academy of Sciences held a solemn meeting of the Academic Council dedicated to the 100th anniversary of the birth of Kwame Nkrumah*, which was attended by Charge d'affaires of the Republic of Ghana to the Russian Federation Audri Abaena, representatives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, ambassadors of individual African countries, employees of a number of institutes of the Russian Academy of Sciences, teachers and graduate students of higher educational institutions. educational institutions (ISAA MSU, Yaroslavl State University).

Opening the meeting, the Director of the Institute, corresponding member. RAS A. M. Vasiliev noted that after the Second World War, the rise of the national liberation movement in the countries of Asia and Africa began. In the course of the anti-colonial revolution, a number of leaders came to the political forefront who made a huge contribution to the theory and practice of the struggle for national and social liberation. These are such outstanding personalities as Jawaharlal Nehru in India, Sukarno in Indonesia, Gamal Abdel Nasser in Egypt, Ben Bella in Algeria, Sekou Toure in Guinea, etc. Among them is the great son of the Ghanaian people, Kwame Nkrumah, under whose leadership Ghana became the first country in Tropical Africa to achieve independence and accelerate the decolonization of the entire African continent.

P. I. Kupriyanov (Institute of Africa) made a report on "Kwame Nkrumah - a prominent political figure and scientist". He described the life and work of Kwame Nkrumah* and shared his memories of his participation in the 1962 Ghana Farmers ' Congress in Kumasi and the impression that K. Nkrumah's speech had made on him. P. I. Kupriyanov was also an eyewitness and participant in the discussions about choosing the path of development of Ghana, which unfolded in the country after independence. He stressed that K. Nkrumah's position was not always consistent in the acute ideological struggle. As a result, the revolutionary forces that favored a non-capitalist path of development gained the upper hand.

The speaker noted that Kwame Nkrumah was not only an outstanding political figure, but also a talented scientist. The complete elimination of colonialism on the African continent, the exposure of the forms and methods of neocolonialism, and the prospects for the socio-economic development of Africa were the subject of his research. He was particularly interested in philosophy, and became acquainted with the works of Kant, Hegel, Descartes, Schopenhauer, Nietzsche, Freud, and others. The works of Karl Marx and V. I. Lenin had a particularly strong influence on the formation of his views. He has published 12 major monographs on topical issues of the African continent. One can agree or disagree with the conclusions of K. Nkrumah, but his great contribution to the study of the national liberation struggle and current socio-political problems of modern Africa is indisputable.

Charge d'affaires a. i.of the Republic of Ghana to the Russian Federation Audri Abaena stressed that Kwame Nkrumah was not only the first President of Ghana, but also an outstanding person whose life and work made a significant contribution to changing the world. The speaker noted that one of the ideologists of pan-Africanism, J. Padmore, had a great influence on the formation of K. Nkrumah's views, and together they prepared and conducted the Fifth Pan-African Congress, held in Manchester in 1945.

Audri Abaena gave a detailed account of K. Nkrumah's great role in the struggle for the independence of Ghana, for the liberation of Africa from colonialism and the creation of the Organization of African Unity. In her opinion, his active work aimed at unifying Africa caused concern among many Western countries, who believed that this could lead to the loss of their sources of raw materials.

* For more information, see this issue: Mazov S. O. "The Kingdom" of Kwame Nkrumah.

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There were several attempts to assassinate K. Nkrumah, organized by people who had previously sympathized with the colonialists and lost their influence under K. Nkrumah's rule. His success was also evident in the positive changes that have taken place in the country over the years of independence. Under him, a solid foundation of the country's infrastructure was laid. By the beginning of 1966, Ghana had achieved a high level of socio-economic development.

In Ghana, Kwame Nkrumah's 100th birthday is widely and solemnly celebrated. September 21 was declared a public holiday by decree of the country's President J. Mills. Events dedicated to the anniversary will be held on Ghana's Independence Day (March 6, 2010) and African Liberation Day (May 25, 2010). In addition, the decision to mark Kwame Nkrumah's 100th birthday was also made at the African Union summit held in Sirte, Libya, in June 2009.

In his speech, N. D. Kosukhin (Institute of Africa) noted that Kwame Nkrumah went down in the history of Africa as an outstanding political thinker, an ideologist of pan-Africanism, who sought to understand the processes of national and social development of the former colonies. His political experience and scientific and journalistic heritage are an important contribution to the development of the theory and practice of independent African countries. The most vivid expression of his theoretical views is reflected in the book "Philosophy of Consciousness" (1964).

It, along with other provisions, justifies the tactics of the united anti-colonial democratic front in order to build a society of social justice. These propositions became the basis of the theory of "Nkrumaism", which was strongly influenced by the dialectical-materialist concept (Marxism). The theory of "Nkrumaism" was an attempt to solve acute socio-political problems of independent African countries on the path of evolutionary modernization of traditional relations.

The political drama of K. Nkrumah was that in the course of creating a new society, he could not bring his theoretical views and real social practice into line. Showing political impatience, Nkrumah declared the struggle for socialism to be the immediate task of the African liberation movement. Modern African public and state figures adopt all the best that was in the theoretical and practical activities of K. Nkrumah.

Churchill Evumbue-Monono (President of the Union of African Diplomats, Cameroon) emphasized the enormous influence of the Christian religion on the formation of the ideology of "Nkrumaism". During K.'s school years. Nkrumah was baptized according to the Roman Catholic rite, studied at a mission school, and continued his religious education at the Teachers ' College in Achimota. In the United States, at the same time as studying at the University of Pennsylvania, he studied at the Seminary of theology. During this time, he preached in churches for African Americans. The speaker showed how K. Nkrumah and his supporters skillfully used the Christian commandments, raising the masses to fight for independence.

Corresponding member V. T. Solodovnikov of the Russian Academy of Sciences (Institute of Africa) described Kwame Nkrumah as a revolutionary, statesman and political figure, a theoretical scientist of the national liberation struggle of the peoples of Africa against European colonial rule. He spoke about his meetings with K. Nkrumah. For the first time, this happened in November 1965, during his stay as the official representative of the USSR Academy of Sciences in Ghana at the 6th Anniversary Session of the Ghana Academy of Sciences. K. Nkrumah personally received foreign delegations that arrived at the session. At a meeting with a delegation from the Soviet Union, he raised the issue of the works of Soviet African scientists. In particular, he asked to send him the encyclopedic reference book "Africa", published in 2 volumes in 1963. His request was promptly granted. The second meeting took place on December 10, 1965. K. Nkrumah recalled his visit to the USSR in 1961, about conversations with Academician M. S. Keldysh, President of the USSR Academy of Sciences, and I. I. Potekhin, Director of the Institute of Africa of the USSR Academy of Sciences. He was interested in what research is being conducted at the Institute, spoke about the situation in Africa and the inevitable strengthening of solidarity among the peoples of the world in the struggle of African peoples against colonialism. They met again in Conakry in December 1967. At this time, K. Nkrumah continued to work on his book "Neocolonialism. The last stage of imperialism", spoke about the revolutionary situation in Africa, about the growing national liberation struggle of the peoples of Africa against colonialism, imperialism and apartheid.

V. G. Solodovnikov left an indelible impression of K. Nkrumah's colossal erudition and devotion to the fate of the peoples of Africa. K. Nkrumah remained a friend of the Soviet Union until the end of his days.

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B. G. Petruk (Institute of Africa) said that in 1964 he was sent to Ghana to give a course of lectures on philosophy at the Ideological Institute named after him. Kwame Nkrumah, where senior Ghanaian party and government cadres were trained. He published his article "Socialism and Personality" in the institute's journal "Nkrumaist". K. Nkrumah ordered it to be reprinted in the central newspaper "Ganian Times" and asked the author to regularly publish articles on scientific topics in the newspaper. B. G. Petruk also held a seminar on groups, and for the first time the audience had the opportunity to participate in the discussion.

Yu. N. Tokarev (personal physician of K. Nkrumah in 1963-1965) noted that Kwame Nkrumah was a strong, physically healthy man at the age of 54. On the first day they met, he showed him the headstand, an exercise taught by Jawaharlal Nehru. K. Nkrumah (his son was a doctor) was very interested in medicine and public health, supported scientific research and helped with the reconstruction of the hospital. Thanks to the constant help and support of K. Nkrumah managed to reconstruct the hospital, prevent an epidemic of smallpox, start the prevention of tuberculosis and other infections, and organize a Soviet civilian hospital in the area of Mapong Akwapim.

The speaker's first impression of K. Nkrumah was that he was an intellectual, extremely erudite, wise, though a little naive, attentive, humorous, artistic and generally very charming person. A sense of warmth and benevolence radiated from him. At receptions at the residence, it was always possible to determine his location - where most people laughed and joked. At the same time, he was also a very serious man who perfectly understood the needs of his people and his purpose in life - to lead the people to freedom and prosperity after centuries of colonial rule. As a leader, he was constantly looking for ways to achieve these goals and chose African socialism.

P. I. KUPRIYANOV

* * *

On October 7, 2009, the Institute of Africa of the Russian Academy of Sciences celebrated its 50th anniversary. The celebrations were held in the mansion on Spiridonovka, a historical monument of architecture of the early XX century, built in the likeness of the palazzo in the Italian city of Vicenza. It was here that in late 1979 the institute moved from Starokonyushenny Lane, where its history was born. And it was like this.

As you know, 1960 was an important milestone in world history. African countries were freed one after another from the colonial yoke. The establishment of a scientific institution for the study of African problems was a real necessity in the context of historical changes on the African continent. To a large extent, this was facilitated by the meeting of N. S. Khrushchev with the outstanding scientist and public figure William Dubois, who advised him to create the Institute of Africa. This memorable day is captured in a photograph that is kept at the Institute. Later, the first director of the Institute, I. I. Potekhin, will call him the "godfather" of the institute.

October 2, 1959 The Presidium of the USSR Academy of Sciences issued a decree "On the organization of the Institute of Africa of the USSR Academy of Sciences and its tasks". One of its points stated:"In order to thoroughly and comprehensively study the current political and economic problems of the African continent, as well as the history and culture of the peoples of Africa, to organize the Institute of Africa as part of the Department of Historical Sciences of the USSR Academy of Sciences." After the first director, the Institute of Africa was headed first by corresponding members. Academy of Sciences of the USSR V. G. Solodovnikov, and then A. A. Gromyko. Since 1992, the Institute has been headed by a corresponding member. RAS A. M. Vasiliev.

There have been many changes in 50 years. Prominent African scientists have passed away, leaving behind a rich legacy. During this period, the national school of African studies was established, and a system of comprehensive study of the continent was developed. Currently, the Institute is engaged in research on civilizational, economic, political, social, legal, and ethno-cultural problems of African states. An important place is given to the history and international relations of African countries, as well as Russia's cooperation with these countries.

The Institute has 13 research centers, as well as a center for scientific information and international relations, a Postgraduate department, and an Editorial and publishing department. The Institute employs 100 research associates-

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Among them are 2 corresponding members of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 22 doctors of Sciences, 50 candidates of Sciences.

During its existence, the staff of the Institute has prepared and published about one and a half thousand scientific papers: monographs, collections, articles, brochures, materials of scientific conferences. In addition, there are ongoing publications: "Proceedings of the Institute of Africa of the Russian Academy of Sciences", "Scientific Notes of the Institute of Africa of the Russian Academy of Sciences", "African Studies in Russia", as well as serial publications: "Africa in the Memoirs of veterans of the Diplomatic Service", "Rebellious Ethnicity", "Gender Studies", "Global and Strategic Studies","New and recent History of African countries", "Civilizational dimension".

Together with the Institute of Oriental Studies of the Russian Academy of Sciences, the Institute of Africa is a co-founder of the scientific journals "Vostok/Oriens" and "Asia and Africa Today", which publish articles by the Institute's staff on topical issues of African development, memoirs, travel notes and other materials.

The organization and holding of scientific and practical conferences plays an important role in the Institute's activities. Traditional steels: International Conference of African Studies (11 conferences were held from 1969 to 2008), International Conference "Hierarchy and Power in the History of Civilizations" (in 2009 the conference was held for the fifth time), Readings in memory of I. I. Potekhin, Readings in memory of D. A. Olderogge - one of the founders of Soviet (Russian) African studies (held jointly with St. Petersburg University), the School of Young Africanists is an annual forum that brings together aspiring African researchers.

Conducting scientific expeditions has always been one of the brightest and most significant components of the work of the Institute of Africa. A distinctive feature of all the Institute's expeditions to African countries was their complex nature. The Institute's field research was initiated in 1971 by a joint Soviet-Somali expedition. The Russian expedition to Ethiopia (1991-1992) continued the tradition.

In the 2000s, conducting expeditions and field research in Africa became one of the priority areas of the Institute's activities. In 2003-2005, expeditions were organized to Tanzania to study inter-confessional, inter-ethnic and race relations in the country. Field studies were also conducted in Benin, Egypt, Morocco, Nigeria, Somalia, South Africa, Sudan, Tanzania, and other African countries in 2006-2009.

As an international scientific institution, the Institute of Africa has extensive international contacts. International cooperation with foreign partners is diverse in its forms and methods of implementation. It includes partnership in international programs of scientific cooperation, research projects, representation in research structures of near and far abroad, participation in international expeditions, conferences and seminars, teaching activities abroad, admission of foreign scientists, membership in international associations of African and Arab studies and societies for business and cultural cooperation. We maintain relations with universities in South Africa, Mozambique, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Tanzania, Kenya, Zambia, Senegal, Nigeria, Benin, Egypt, as well as with research centers of African studies in many foreign countries.

Permanent cooperation with the embassies of African countries in Moscow and the participation of African diplomats in various events organized by the Institute play an important role in the development of international contacts.

For many years, primary attention has been paid to teaching activities and preparing a scientific shift. Over the years of the Institute's existence, more than 500 candidates and doctors of sciences have been trained in its postgraduate program, of which 136 are foreign citizens. Approximately 30% of candidates and doctors of science teach in higher education institutions.

Employees of the Institute participate in the implementation of Federal target programs for the development of education for 2001-2005 and 2006-2010. In 2008, a cooperation agreement was signed with the Peoples ' Friendship University of Russia and an agreement with St. Petersburg State University, in which the parties expressed their readiness to develop and implement joint innovative educational and research programs, create joint educational and research centers, conduct joint research and carry out other forms of cooperation.

Prominent scientific, political and public figures, representatives of the African Diploma took part in the celebrations on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the Institute-

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academic building in Moscow. The meeting was opened by the Director of the Institute of Africa A. M. Vasiliev. Greetings to the Institute were delivered by: acad. Russian Academy of Sciences, President of the Moscow Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Russia E. M. Primakov, Vice-President of the Russian Academy of Sciences Acad. A.D. Nekipelov, Academicians of the Russian Academy of Sciences N. A. Simonia, M. L. Titarenko, Doyen of the African Diplomatic Corps in Moscow Ambassador of Guinea-Bissau Rogerio Herbert, Ambassadors: Kenya-Sospiter Magita Machage, Chad-Jebrin Abdul, Democratic Republic of the Congo-Moiz Kabaku Muchail et al. In their speeches, they noted the huge role of the Institute of Africa in the development of Russian science, as well as its contribution to strengthening ties between African scientists from different countries.

Dmitry Safonov, a veteran Africanist of the Russian diplomatic service, retired Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary, who opened embassies in Uganda and Liberia in the 1960s, was present at the celebration. This man is a legend of Soviet-Russian African studies. Despite his 101st birthday (!), he looks cheerful, retains a good memory and a sober mind. In short, a worthy example for the younger generation.

During the festive event, a government telegram and greetings received from the President of the Russian Federation Dmitry Medvedev, the President of the Russian Academy of Sciences Academician Yu. S. Osipov, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation Sergey Lavrov, the Chairman of the Federation Council Sergey Mironov and others were read out. The Federation Council of the Russian Federation, in an order dated October 2, 2009, also expressed gratitude to the Chairman of the Federation Council to the Institute of Africa of the Russian Academy of Sciences for many years of fruitful scientific activity and a great contribution to cooperation with African countries and in connection with the 50th anniversary of the Institute's foundation.

Employees of the INION RAS library, who prepared an exhibition of the Institute's publications, members of the Jubilee organizing committee, who organized a colorful photo exhibition, colleagues from St. Petersburg, who provided the best samples of African music, as well as folklore ensembles of students from the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Chad from RUDN University, helped create the holiday atmosphere.

G. M. SIDOROVA

PIKE PERCH

Ukraine

The XIX International Interdisciplinary Scientific Conference " Man and Nature. Problems of Socio-Natural History", organized by the journal "History and Modernity", the Institute of Oriental Studies and the Institute of Sociology of the Russian Academy of Sciences and the Institute of Oriental Studies of the A. Mickiewicz University (Poznan, Poland) with the assistance of the Sudak Faculty of Management of the Tauride National University. 50 reports were submitted for the conference. Some of the reports were published in the journal "History and Modernity" in 2009 and in the collection " Man and Nature: Social Capital "(Kiev-Simferopol, 2009).

The conference traditionally brings together specialists from Russia, Ukraine and Poland representing different fields of knowledge: historians, sociologists, biologists, philosophers, psychologists, mathematicians, physicists. They jointly discuss the results of current research on the interrelation, mutual influence and interaction of processes, phenomena and events in the life of society and nature.

At the XIX conference, 32 reports were heard and 5 "round tables" were held: "Scientific worldview and inertia of society", "Education and mentality", "Climate and the fate of the biosphere", "Russia-Poland-prospects for cooperation", "Crimea today".

Each day of the conference ended with a round table. There were two main topics discussed: "Nature and society" with sub-themes related to the role of information and education, the historical transformation of landscapes and ethnic groups; "Global socio-ecological crisis" with sub-themes related to the problems of globalization of the world and processes in Poland, the Russian Federation and the CIS countries.

E. S. Kulygin-Gubaidullin, Editor-in-Chief of the journal "History and Modernity", Chief Researcher of the Institute of Sociology and Information Technology of the Russian Academy of Sciences, delivered the first plenary report "Scientific Worldview and Inertia of Society". A round table discussion was devoted to the same problem, where the same speaker made a report on the life path of V. V. Dokuchaev and posed the question: always

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does the inertia of society block the new scientific worldview so much that it is unable to adequately respond to the challenges of the time?

The second plenary report on "Global, Regional and national aspects of climate change" was delivered by Corresponding Member of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Head of the Department of Climate Change. laboratory of MPEI V. V. Klimenko and A. G. Tereishny (MPEI). The report was also followed by a round table discussion on climate in the next 20 years and the impact of climate change on political, social and economic processes in the world.

V. V. Melnikova (Institute of Sociology of the Russian Academy of Sciences) spoke about the contradictions between the cultural needs of modern man and the preservation of historical monuments (report " The Clash of culture and civilization. Parks of Moscow"), T. F. Stolyarova (Ryazan) - on the transformation of culture under the influence of natural factors ("Cultural phenomena as a result of socio-natural interaction"), L. M. Smirnov (Psychological Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences. education) - on the transformation of the value compendium ("Universals of value choice"), I. V. and N. O. Kovalev (MSU) - on the ecological and functional role of soils in the development of civilizations, L. K. Ermolaeva (Ivanovo) - on the role of landscape in the civilizational space ("Natural and natural prerequisites for the formation of the Russian civilizational space"), S. Y. Malkov (Voen. acad.) - on methods of formalization of modern processes ("Mathematical modeling of socio-economic and socio-ecological crises").

S. K. Kostovsk (Institute of Geogr. RAS) "Recreational nature management on the territory of the Solovetsky Archipelago" and V. O. Stulashapka (Moscow State University) presented their reports on the specifics of the processes of interaction between society and nature. pedagogic. uni-t) "Conflict situations in specially protected natural territories"; A. G. Orujeva (Ural Academy of Sciences. State Services) "Transformations of ethnic processes in the Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Okrug in the XX century"; A. N. Meshcheryakova (RSUH)" Historical and cultural features of Japanese militarism"; Adviser to the Ministry of Natural Resources of the Russian Federation O. Yu. Zitzer"Solving problems of rehabilitation of industrially polluted lands in East Germany".

Two reports were preliminary discussions of doctoral dissertations. I. O. Kovaleva (MSU) in her report "Dynamics of landscapes of the North Caucasus and ethnography of the Alans" spoke about the interaction of man and nature in the Caucasus. Surun-Khanda Syrtypova made a report "Structural elements of the natural and cultural landscape of Transbaikalia".

On the second topic "Global socio-ecological crisis and its consequences", the report "Knowledge society in the global ecological crisis" was made by the Vice-rector of the A. Mickiewicz University Ya. Wisniewski. Changes in mentality in the modern world were discussed in the report of the philosopher and psychologist A. P. Nazaretyan (IB RAS) "Meaning formation as a global problem of our time". Priest D. Kubicki, Deputy Director of the Institute of Oriental Studies of the University named after A. Mickiewicz, linked the socio-ecological crisis of the XXI century with the globalization processes of the XX century. K. Petkiewicz, Director of the Institute of Oriental Studies (Poland), made a report on "The Polish Doctrine of Security in social and environmental fields". The topic of Russia's participation in international economic agreements on environmental safety was raised by O. Y. Tsitzer. V. I. Pantin (IMEMO RAS) devoted his report to the relationship between financial and environmental crises. He focused on the course, duration, and immediate timing of temporary stabilization and further deepening, as well as the lack of synchronization of crisis phenomena in the world in general and in Russia in particular.

According to two participants of the conference, modernization of the education system should become an obstacle to the crisis that promises to be very long. Deputy Dean of the Faculty of Pedagogy of Moscow State University sinologist O. A. Mashkina in a detailed report "Forming the intellectual potential of the PRC" spoke about internal "challenges" in Chinese society in various spheres of life and highlighted in detail the "answers" to respond to these" challenges " in the education system. The same problems in Russia were discussed in his report "Education in the system of ensuring the competitiveness of the state", which was full of both general provisions and specific details. Minister of Education of the Republic of Tatarstan Academician-Secretary of the Department of Economics of the Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Tatarstan V. V. Khomenko. The discussion of the problems of education and the formation of mentality was continued at the round table.

Question: How did the post-Soviet space enter the current global crisis? - was considered in a number of reports: L. O. Kar-

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Pachevsky (Moscow State University) "Soviet civilization and Utopia: a natural scientist's view"; M. Marshevsky (Institute of Oriental Studies) based on field material outlined the general problems in the Central Asian states and the situation of the most vulnerable social stratum - Central Asian Gypsies - in a comparative analysis with other social strata; Gj. Skrukva compared the goals of the Orange Revolution in Ukraine in 2004 with their subsequent implementation, gave an assessment of the current situation and justified the impossibility of further forecasting at the moment.

Four reports of Polish participants from the University named after A. Mickiewicz were heard and discussed as PhD theses: P. Wisniewska "Socio-ecological crisis and restriction of individual rights"; M. Studenna "The problem of social exclusion in post-industrial society on the example of Polish and Ukrainian coal industry centers"; M. Jakowska " The phenomenon of the National Bolshevik movement- ideological and cultural aspects "and M. Huda-Granat" The phenomenon of network communication - a new type of human relations or the illusion of interpersonal communication?". The theme of the round table meeting is "Russia-Poland-prospects for cooperation".

On the last day of the conference, reports of Crimean scientists were heard and a round table "Crimea Today" was held.

The conference re-elected the Scientific Council on Problems of Socio-natural History. The Scientific Council was approved as a member of: A. A. Burkhanov (Kazan), V. Wrzosek (Poland), V. L. Glazychev (MARKHI), L. E. Grinin (Volgograd), L. O. Karpachevsky, A. I. Kogan (Secretary), V. V. Klimenko, S. K. Kostowska, E. S. Kulpin-Gubaidullin (Chairman) M. Marshewski (Poland), A. N. Meshcheryakov (RSUH), A. P. Nazaretyan, V. I. Pantin, K. Petkevich (Poland), L. M. Smirnov, I. A. Khaliy (Institute of Sociology of the Russian Academy of Sciences), O. Yu. Zitzer. Council functions: 1. Discussion of theoretical problems, approval of the main directions of socio-natural research; 2. Development of programs of the scientific and practical conference "Man and Nature-problems of socio-natural history", approval of the composition of the organizing committee of the conference; 3. Consideration of abstracts submitted to the organizing committee of the conference for compliance with the problems of SEI, conference tasks, distribution of reports for plenary and 4. Review of the content and approval for publication of issues of the series "Socio-natural History", recommendation for publication of articles for the journal "History and Modernity".

V. V. MELNIKOVA

THAILAND

BANGKOK

On July 1-3, 2009, the International Conference on Asian Folklore (ICAF 2009) was held by the Center for Folklore Studies of Thailand and Chulalongkor University. The conference heard 46 reports, mainly on various aspects of Thai folklore. Among the foreign reports, interest was aroused by the report on the early forms of Philippine folklore by M. Korosa (Philippines), Korean folk songs by A. V. Pogadaeva (Russia), Malay hikayats by Husni Abu Bakar (Malaysia), Burmese lullabies by Mint Thand (Myanmar), etc. It was noted at the conference that in order to preserve the folklore of small nations, it is necessary to popularize folklore forms, giving them a new sound. Students of Chulalongkor University organized a concert of folk music, songs and dances for the conference participants.

V. A. POGADAEV

MALAYSIA

JOHOR BAHRU

On September 28-30, 2009, the international conference "Malay as an International Language" was held, organized by the Academy of Malay Studies of the University of Malaya, the University of Malaya Pedagogical Institute. Sultan Idris, the Language and Literature Council of Malaysia, and the Johor Heritage Foundation. 50 presentations were made on various aspects of the development of the Malay language, as well as the Government's efforts to make it an international language by 2020, i.e. to make it one of the official languages of the United Nations.

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The speakers noted that there are good reasons for this. Malay has long been used as a lingua franca in Southeast Asia, literary masterpieces have been written in it (for example, "The Tale of Hang Tuah"), it is officially used in Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, a huge amount of work has been done to develop terminology in various branches of science (more than a million words), the language is studied in many countries. in many countries of the world (in Australia, even in secondary schools).

At the same time, concern was expressed about the fate of the language in a country where its position is being undermined by the "aggressive offensive" of the English language.

V. A. POGADAEV

KUALA LUMPUR

On October 5, 2009, the Department of English Language and Literature of the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences of the University of Malaya, together with the Malaysian Association for the Study of Literature and Languages of the Commonwealth of Nations (MACLALS), held a conference on "Problems of Postcolonial Translation". It was attended by about 50 people from Malaysia, India, Indonesia, Iran and Russia.

Eight presentations were given: H. Trivedi (Delhi University, India) "Postcolonial Translation: The Dilemma of Anglophones", Sukanta Chaudhuri (Calcutta University, India) "Tagore Translations: The Oxford Project", Lim Chi Seng (MACLALS) "Fantasies and Translation in Malay Genealogies", V. A. Pogadaev (Russia) "Translations and Translators in Russia", Chua Gut Eng (Malaysia) "Translated and Translated: Using the Language of Asian Narrative Structures in debunking Postcolonial Thinking in Echo of Silence", Sharmani Patricia Gabriel (Malaysia) " Translation of the words "race", "nation", "Malaysian nation": towards a new cultural policy of Malayization", Ismail Solami (Iran) " Translation of poetry as a philosophy: influence of Persian poetry on the West", M. Sedikh Javanmiri (Iran) "Problems of translation into the Kurdish language".

V. A. POGADAEV

* * *

On October 20-21, 2009, the University of Malaya hosted an international seminar "Relations between Indochina and the Malay World", organized by the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences of the University and the French School of the Far East (Paris). 20 reports were heard, including the report of A. Griffiths (Jakarta Branch of the French School of the Far East) "New studies in Cham epigraphy", Abdullah Zakariya Ghazali (University of Malaya) "The Malay world and Indochina: traces of Indochina influence on Malay names", E. Stock (University of Paris) " Communications between Champa and the Malay World", N. Weber (University of Malaya) "Chams and Malays in Indochina through the Prism of Colonial Archives", Ri Nakamura (Northern University of Malaysia) "Bani u Cham Group of Vietnam", Liu Zikyan (Beijing University) "Reflection of the Historical links between Champa and Malaya". The Malay world in Chinese Chronicles", by Darma (Kuala Lumpur branch of the French School of the Far East) "The Malay world and Champa: cultural, historical and economic ties", J. Weida (Singapore Institute of Southeast Asian Studies) "Sea routes between Indochina and Nusantara in the XV-XIX centuries", M. S.Sabtu (University of Malaya) "Relations between Indochina and the Malacca Peninsula: Evidence from archaeology", Mohammad Zaid Musa (National University of Malaysia) "The ruling elite of the Cham Malays", M.-F. Dupwaza (Research Center. Southeast Asia, Paris) "Vietnamese ceramics in the Malay world", D. Perret (French School of the Far East) " Jeanne Couisignier: French ethnographer in Indochina and the Malay World (1890-1964)", K. Salmon (Center for Research. Southeast Asia, Paris) "Vietnamese Emissaries in the Malay World", Siti Nor Awang (University of Malaya) "Cham Society and Fish Farming", Truong Van Ion (Ho Chi Minh University) "Historical links between Champa and the Malay Rajas", A. Z. Husina "Vietnam-Indonesia relations during Sukarno's rule until 1996", Ku Eun Dara (University of Malaya) "The role of Hoi An Port in the development of relations between the Malay world and Indochina", Tran Tui An (Hanoi University of Social Sciences and Humanities) "Analysis of loanwords in Vietnamese and Malay", D. Wong (University of Malaya) "Cham refugees in Malaysia", Shin Toshihiko (University of Kyoto, Japan)"Traditional connections of Champa and Kelantan in Malaysia".

V. A. POGADAEV

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