From Sochi - 2014 to FIFA - 2018: a Fading Sovereignty?

In this article, we uncover the dynamics and the evolution of Russian discourses of sovereignty before and after the Sochi 2014 Olympic Games using some elements of Foucauldian methodology and constructivist reading of sovereignty as an institution. We argue that there is a discrepancy between the rhetoric of sovereign power and the institutional practices in which it is embedded. It leads us to theorize that sovereignty discourses are contextual, unstable and constitutively shaped by commitments taken as key elements of international socialization. In the case of Russia, these discourses can be divided into three groups: pre-Sochi, post-Sochi and pre-World 2018 Cup discursive formations. As we venture to demonstrate, Putin's model of sovereignty is in crisis, yet it has support, both domestic and international. In the near future, sport is likely to remain one of those spheres of high visibility where the ideology of surviving under sanctions and counter-attacking the West will be reified

Уклонение от уплаты налогов: библиометрический анализ точек зрения власти, бизнеса и науки

Статья посвящена анализу публикаций, касающихся проблемы уклонения от уплаты налогов. Эта тема привлекает пристальное внимание не только научного сообщества. В статье исследуется соответствие проблематики научных работ по уклонению от уплаты налогов практическим вопросам, обсуждаемым заинтересованными лицами. В качестве источника научных публикаций по данной тематике использовалась электронная база e-Library. В круг заинтересованных лиц, напрямую зависящих от правил налогообложения, входят бизнессообщество и государственные органы. Для них источниками информации по исследуемой теме являются электронная база публикаций издательского дома «Коммерсантъ» и «Российская газета». Для анализа отобрана 301 публикация за 2013-2015 гг. Изучение соответствия проблематики проводилось путем сравнения публикационной активности в разрезе видов публикаций. На первом этапе исследования был выполнен качественный контент-анализ посредством выявления общих тем, обсуждаемых в публикациях. Затем проводился количественный анализ через сравнение распределения публикаций по конкретной теме из каждого источника. Для количественного анализа и визуализации результатов использовались методы библиометрического анализа и картирования. Расчеты производились с помощью программного продукта QDA Miner v.5.0 модуль WordStat v.7.1.7. В результате исследования были сделаны выводы, что самыми популярными темами, интерес к которым не меняется, являются: изменение законодательства, законотворчество и усиление принуждения. Темы, к которым за рассматриваемый период снизился интерес, касаются международных аспектов налогообложения, теневой деятельности, собственности и инвестиций. Отмечено выраженное возрастание интереса сообщества к фирмам-однодневкам, руководству компаний, а также к вопросам штрафов и пени. Исследование позволило выявить определенное несоответствие тем, обсуждаемых бизнесом и властью, по сравнению с темами научных публикаций. Распространенные в научных публикациях темы (теневая экономика, коррупция, фирмы-однодневки, взносы на социальное страхование), гораздо реже встречаются на ресурсах издательского дома «Коммерсантъ» и в «Российской газете», сосредотачивающих основное внимание на вопросах законотворчества и обсуждения изменений в законодательстве. Анализ взаимосвязей в текстах в соответствии с источниками и годом публикации показал, что темы научных исследований сближаются с проблемами, рассматриваемыми властью, а бизнес-сообщество в большей степени вовлекается обсуждение правовой проблематики, т. е. точка зрения власти во многом определяет обсуждение темы уклонения от налогов бизнес-сообществом, и научными кругами. Таким образом, библиометрические методы анализа текстов могут применяться для проведения научных исследований, составления обзоров литературы и тематического поиска информации.This article analyzes the publications relating to the problem of tax evasion. This topic is attractive not only for the academic community, but also for public at whole. The article explores to what extent the scientific publications on tax evasion correspond to practical issues discussed among the stakeholders. We used the electronic database of e-Library as a source of scientific publications on the subject. The principal stakeholders directly dependent on the taxation are the taxpayers and public authorities. We used the electronic database of publications «Kommersant» publishing house and the «Rossiyskaya Gazeta» to reflect issues discussed among the stakeholders. We selected for analyze 301 publications for the period of 2013-2015. The study was conducted by comparing the publication activity by types and period of publications. In the first stage of the study we have done the qualitative content analysis by identification the common themes discussed in hole sample of publications. Then, a quantitative analysis was conducted by comparing the distribution of publications on a particular topic from each source. We used bibliometric analysis method for the quantitative and bibliographic mapping method to visualize the results of research. Calculations were performed using the software QDA Miner v.5.0 module WordStat v.7.1.7. As a result, studies have concluded that the most popular topics of interest for which no changes are: changes in legislation, legislation and increased enforcement. Using the results of the conducted study, we can identify the main similarities and differences between the monitored sources. We can see the special attention to the: Legislation changes, Law enforcement, Entrepreneurship. Marked reduction of interest can be noted regarding to the following topics: International aspects of taxation, Shadow economy, Ownership, property, investment. The growth of interest can be noted in relation to the following topics: Directorship, Article of the Tax Code, Short-lived companies, Arrears and fines. The study revealed a certain disparity between the topics discussed among academic community and stakeholders. The topics discussed in the majority of scientific texts (shadow economy, corruption, the firm one-day, social security contributions), a much rarer can be found in the publication of «Kommersant» and «Rossiyskaya Gazeta» which focuses mainly on matters of legislation. Analysis of the relationships in the texts according to the source and year of publication showed that research topics converge with issues considered by the public authorities. The business community more involved in discussion the legal issues, because the government notion works upon the impression about tax evasion of the business community and academia. Thus, bibliometric text analysis techniques can be used for research, preparation of literature reviews and thematic information retrieval

Bakhtinian Dialogic and Vygotskian Dialectic: Compatabilities and contradictions in the classroom?

This article explores two central notions of ‘dialectics’ and ‘dialogics’ based on the work of Vygotsky (drawing on philosophers such as Hegel, Spinoza, Engels and Marx) and Bakhtin (drawing on members of the Bakhtin Circle and writers such as Dostoevsky and Rabelais) respectively, as well their varying interanimations within Stalin-Marxist Russian society. It is proposed that these two positions are incommensurably located alongside one another in contemporary education. I argue that Bakhtin offers diametrically oppositional educational provocations to those of Vygotsky. The implications of these interpretations will be explored with consideration of their underlying philosophical incompatibilities and contradictions, as well as the opportunities such a consideration pose for educational practice today

Unmet goals of tracking: within-track heterogeneity of students' expectations for

Educational systems are often characterized by some form(s) of ability grouping, like tracking. Although substantial variation in the implementation of these practices exists, it is always the aim to improve teaching efficiency by creating homogeneous groups of students in terms of capabilities and performances as well as expected pathways. If students’ expected pathways (university, graduate school, or working) are in line with the goals of tracking, one might presume that these expectations are rather homogeneous within tracks and heterogeneous between tracks. In Flanders (the northern region of Belgium), the educational system consists of four tracks. Many students start out in the most prestigious, academic track. If they fail to gain the necessary credentials, they move to the less esteemed technical and vocational tracks. Therefore, the educational system has been called a 'cascade system'. We presume that this cascade system creates homogeneous expectations in the academic track, though heterogeneous expectations in the technical and vocational tracks. We use data from the International Study of City Youth (ISCY), gathered during the 2013-2014 school year from 2354 pupils of the tenth grade across 30 secondary schools in the city of Ghent, Flanders. Preliminary results suggest that the technical and vocational tracks show more heterogeneity in student’s expectations than the academic track. If tracking does not fulfill the desired goals in some tracks, tracking practices should be questioned as tracking occurs along social and ethnic lines, causing social inequality

Pipeline politics and energy (in)security in Central and South-Eastern Europe

No abstract available

Discursive differences and policy outcomes: EU-Russia relations and security in Europe

The redefinition of political communities in Europe has been a process in flux, especially since the end of the Cold War. The central role of the EU as an “identity builder” (Risse, 2009) among its member states, and to a certain extent in its relations with its neighbours, has been increasingly contested, not least in its relations with Russia. Europe has been a permanent feature of Russia?s identity redefinition following the collapse of the Soviet Union and therefore a central element shaping relations between the two actors. This article puts forward the argument that differences in discourse and meanings have an impact in policy outcomes, as regards EU-Russia relations and security in Europe. It surveys fundamental events in European security and the parallel evolution in security discourses within the EU and Russia. It, therefore, maps the main elements shaping EU-Russia security relations, focusing on the construction of discursive maps and on how these have impacted bilateral and regional security relations.European Union, Russia, identity, discourse, security, neighbourhood

The meanings of ‘organic’ branding in the Russian skincare industry

This paper will discuss the evolution in marketing communications characterised by the emergence of social media and the spread of online communities, as a result of which, consumers have become active co-constructors of brand identity in the market. The present research aims to bring companies’ attention to the process of brand co-construction with their customers, by considering different organic brand perceptions. It will specifically discuss how organic skincare online communities in Russia perceive and understand ‘organic’ branding and it will identify four major groups of members, who authorize, construct, analogize or abandon organic labels. The research will use the netnographic approach and thematic data analysis to examine online forums discourses. It will categorise different label interpretations into groups according to the meanings that online members assign to them