bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Clinical profile of neonates with polycythemia at a tertiary care hospital in North East, India
Authors: Beti Punyo , Singh C. Shyamsunder , Smilie Chabungbam , Rama Bharghav
Published: January 2025

Background: Neonatal polycythemia (NPC) is associated with hyper viscosity of blood causing impairment of tissue oxygenation, perfusion and formation of microthrombi. Polycythemia is defined as a venous hematocrit (Hct) of≥65% or a haemoglobin (Hb)>22g/dl. It presents with a nonspecific clinical features like plethora, poor feeding, lethargy, hypoglycaemia, jaundice. The aim of this study was to assess the clinical profile in neonates with polycythemia admitted in the paediatrics ward of a tertiary care centre in North East, India.
Methods: A hospital based cross sectional study was carried out from January 2021 to October 2022 and 149 participants were recruited after fulfilling the inclusion and exclusion criteria with approval from ethical board. Statistical analysis was done using SPSS statistics version 21.0 WINDOWS (IBM Corp. Armonk, NY, USA).
Results: Among the 149 cases, 89 (59.7%) neonates were symptomatic and 60 (40%) neonates were asymptomatic. The most common presentation were poor feeding and plethora in 89 neonates each (59.7% each), followed by lethargy (39.6%), hypogycemia (30.2%), jaundice (29.5%), necrotizing enterocolitis (21.5%), cyanosis (10%) and oliguria (10%). Partial exchange therapy was done in 30 neonates (20%), 59 neonates (39.6%) required intravenous fluid and 60 neonates (40.3%) were treated conservatively. All neonates were successfully discharged and no deaths were noted in our study.
Conclusions: Anticipation, early recognition and intervention can prevent acute short-term complications and long-term sequelae of this easy to treat disorder.
From weakness to recovery a case report on Kocher-Debre Semelaigne syndrome
Authors: Rai Nishmith , Sharif Mumtaz , Pal Rajdeep , Hedaginal Vinaykumar , Mehta Rachna
Published: January 2025

Kocher-Debre-Semelaigne syndrome is a rare hypothyroid myopathy in children, characterized by muscle pseudohypertrophy and associated systemic symptoms. We report the case of a 5-year-old girl who presented with progressive muscle weakness, cold intolerance, dry skin, and constipation over seven months with prominent calf muscle hypertrophy, proximal muscle weakness, and hypotonia. This case underscores the importance of prompt diagnosis and treatment of KDSS to reverse symptoms and avoid misdiagnosis as a primary muscle disorder. Awareness is crucial for timely intervention and improved patient outcomes as hypothyroidism can be treated with thyroxine replacement therapy.
Radiological, cytological and histopathological correlation in patients undergoing thyroid surgery at a tertiary care hospital in western Gujarat: a cross-sectional study
Authors: Sorathiya Rashmi , Nimavat Sharvil , Hirani Narendra , Khilnani Ajeet Kumar , Tank Ayush , Patel Mansi
Published: January 2025

Introduction: Thyroid gland is affected by various pathologies ranging from diffuse enlargement (goiter) to nodular lesions, thyroiditis, and malignancies. Fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) is a simple & most cost-effective method to diagnose neck mass located superficially. Ultrasonography (USG) is the initial imaging modality in the evaluation of the neck swellings. The objective of the study being to correlate cytology, radiology and histopathology of patients undergoing thyroid surgery in our tertiary care center.
Methods: All patients who were operated for thyroid gland surgery at our tertiary care hospital of western Gujarat at Ear, Nose, and Throat Department between October 2022 to March 2024 were analysed using statistical software. This study included 54 patients.
Results: Out of the fifty-four (54) individuals who showed signs of thyroid enlargement, forty-five (45) were women and 9 were men. The average age of the participants in this research was 43.25±15.50 years. In our research, 79.67% of patients were classified as benign, 12.96% as malignant, and 7.4% were considered suspicious for malignancy. Only 10% were moderately suspicious of cancer (category IV). No patient was identified as highly suspicious of cancer (category V). FNAC specificity for benign was 95.24% and for malignant 93.02%. For TIRADS specificity was 93.33% for benign and 95.45% malignant.
Conclusions: Most of the times it is easy to diagnose a thyroid swelling by clinical, radiological, cytological and histo-pathological examinations. Our study analyses FNAC with Bethesda, USG with TIRADS as a most important aspect for early diagnosis carcinoma of thyroid.
Sensorineural hearing loss in patients with tubotympanic type of chronic suppurative otitis media: a prospective study
Authors: Singh Manjit , Aman Mohd , Prakash Om , Suri Anil , Bala Kiran , Sharma Rupali , Sharma Preeti
Published: January 2025

Background: Chronic suppurative otitis media (CSOM) is defined as a chronic inflammation of the mucosa of the middle ear cleft, which presents with recurrent or persistent ear discharge through a tympanic membrane perforation. Hearing loss associated with CSOM is conductive but sensorineural hearing loss has also been observed which may be due to toxins produced during infection that can damage the hair cells on the basal turn of the cochlea. To study the relationship between sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) and tubotympanic type of Chronic Suppurative Otitis Media.
Methods: This was a prospective study conducted on 60 patients of tubotympanic type of CSOM attending the ENT OPD at SMGSH, Jammu after getting (Institutional Ethical Committee) IEC clearance.  
Results: In the present study, 8 (13.3%) out of 60 patients of tubotympanic or mucosal type of CSOM had SNHL.
Conclusions: Although it is a known fact that tubotympanic type of CSOM causes conductive hearing loss due to perforation in the tympanic membrane and ossicular damage but it is concluded from the present study that tubotympanic type of CSOM carries a risk of SNHL in significant percentage of patients. Hence, it is advocated that patients should be made aware of risk of development of SNHL in tubotympanic type of CSOM if left unoperated for a longer duration.
Sino orbital mucormycosis treated with fluconazole
Authors: Alebachew Assaye N. , Dibaba Dawit K.
Published: January 2025

The successful treatment of mucormycosis requires; early diagnosis; reversal of underlying predisposing risk factors, if possible, surgical debridement, where applicable and prompt antifungal therapy. Amphotericin B is the gold standard antifungal treatment against mucormycosis to date. However, there are newer agents described recently like posaconazole and isavuconazole which can be used as an option in a few instances. Although amphotericin B especially the liposomal preparation is the preferred agent, the availability and the cost limit its use, especially in resource-limited setups. Generally, azole drugs, especially the first generations such as fluconazole, are not effective against zygomycetes. However, few reports showed complete recovery after use of fluconazole for adjunct treatment. Here we report on a 35-year-old newly diagnosed diabetic woman with Sinoorbital mucormycosis who has been treated with surgical debridement and intermittent bases of amphotericin B and was discharged home without optimal response but returned completely improved after three months of oral fluconazole.
Unveiling the unseen: anterior nasal septal schwannoma
Authors: Azman Aeisyah Binti , Gill Ranveer Singh , Marimuthu Shashi Gopalan , Kodiappan Radha , Nair Sukanya Banerjee
Published: January 2025

Schwannomas also known as neurilemmomas are slow-growing, encapsulated benign peripheral nerve sheath tumours that arise from Schwann cells. It has no gender or racial predilection and commonly occur between the 3rd to 6th decades. Approximately 45% of schwannomas arise from the head and neck region. Sinonasal and paranasal schwannomas however are relatively rare tumours and not commonly documented, accounting less than 4% of all head and neck schwannomas.  Schwannomas arising from the nasal septum are rarely encountered, with only few cases reported. Here we report a case of a 50-year-old lady presented with unilateral nasal congestion and intermittent left sided epistaxis. Physical examination revealed a soft tissue mass occupying the left nasal cavity. A complete tumour excision via endoscopic approach was performed and the histopathologic examination identified the tumour as a schwannoma. A prompt resolution of the symptoms ensued following complete excision of the tumour.
Laryngeal neuroendocrine tumour: a case report on a rare pathology
Authors: Krishnan Anand , Salaria Neha , Singh Anju , Mittal Shubham
Published: January 2025

Most of the laryngeal malignancies are squamous cell carcinomas. The neuroendocrine neoplasms (NENs) are rare tumours of larynx with high incidence of widespread metastases and poor prognosis. Here we are reporting an 87-year-old male with localised primary grade 3 neuroendocrine tumour with Ki67 positivity. He was treated with surgery followed by palliative radiotherapy and is on follow up. We report the rare case of laryngeal neuroendocrine tumour managed with direct laryngoscopic excision followed by radiotherapy.
Hybrid cochlear implant:a scoping review
Authors: Swain Santosh Kumar
Published: January 2025

Cochlear implants (CIs) restore the perception of sound for individuals with severe to profound hearing loss by employing electrical stimulation to directly activate the remaining auditory neurons. Post-implantation ipsilateral hearing loss has been observed in every patient series involving hearing preservation cochlear implantation. Patients with residual hearing in the low-pitched area of the cochlea but severe to profound hearing loss in the middle and high-frequency range can be inserted with a shorter electrode array which preserves the residual hearing. The Hybrid CI, also referred to as electro-acoustic stimulation (EAS), is a type of cochlear implant designed to preserve residual acoustic hearing. It allows for the simultaneous use of a cochlear implant and a hearing aid in the same ear. Expanding electrical speech processing to individuals with more remaining acoustic hearing using a less invasive and shorter cochlear implant marks a significant milestone in cochlear implant technology. In Hybrid CI, the integration of electrical and acoustic hearing often leads to notable improvements in word recognition for the majority of cases. There is a distinct advantage of combining acoustic and electric hearing over relying solely on electrical stimulation, particularly in understanding speech in noisy environments and appreciating music. In general, patients who undergo Hybrid CI express high levels of satisfaction with their outcomes. This review's goal is to discuss Hybrid CI with its history, principles, design, candidacy, advantages, and limitations.
The Union of Kalmar— the Alliance of Denmark, Sweden and Norway
Authors: Shcheglov Andrey
Published: January 2025

The conclusion of the union of Denmark, Sweden and Norway was the key event in late medieval history of Scandinavia. The treaty was passed in Kalmar. Remaining formally independent, the three kingdoms united under the power of the common monarch. The fundamental documents of the Union of Kalmar — the act of coronation of King Erik of Pomerania and the union treaty have attracted historians’ attention. The union act was interpreted in different ways: it was regarded as an international treaty, a project, a protocol etc. Research concerning the Union of Kalmar is still a matter of importance. Comparative study of the Union of Kalmar and the Polish-Lithuanian Union of Krewo has good prospects. Regarding both unions, we face strange form and negligent stamping of the union acts; there are, in particular, mistakes in their texts. In both documents the character of mutual integration is formulated rather vaguely. There are many common features in historians’ debates concerning the two unions, their status and the legal power of the treaties. As for the Diet of Kalmar 1397, it had two results: the properly constituted personal union under King Erik of Pomerania, and the eternal union whose legal basis was uncertain. A factual union emerged, where mutual interest and contradictions were present.
The Leipzig Union of 1631 and the National Rhetoric of German Political Essays During the Swedish Invasion in the German States (1630—1632)
Authors: Lazareva Arina
Published: January 2025

The article deals with the history of the creation and existence of the Leipzig Protestant Union, which appeared in 1631 in Germany under the influence of the invasion of the Swedish king Gustav II Adolf. Swedish expansion into the German states marked a new stage of the Thirty Years’ War, which in historiography is usually called “Swedish”. The official reason for Gustavus Adolf’s entry into the imperial conflict was the desire to help German Protestants preserve the gains of the Reformation and the fight against the restitution of church property begun by Emperor Ferdinand II in 1629. However, the German Protestant princely elite greeted Sweden’s entry into the “German War” with suspicion. In an effort to avoid an escalation of the conflict within the Empire and trying to stop Gustav Adolf from further advancing deeper into German territories, the Saxon Elector Johann Georg initiated the creation of a “third force” in Germany — the Leipzig Union. In exchange for the termination of the Edict of Restitution, Protestants were ready to support the emperor in the fight against the Swedes. Gustav Adolf sought to destroy the Leipzig League and win over German Protestants to his side. One of the characteristic features of the political struggle of the early 1630s. became widespread publicist campaigns that opponents used to shape public opinion in the German lands to support the alliances necessary to continue the war, both pro- and anti-Swedish. One of the main changes in the German media against the backdrop of the Swedish invasion was the use of supra-confessional national rhetoric as argumentation. Publicists appealed to the “national feeling” of the Germans, trying to tip the scales in their favor. The transformation of political journalistic discourse in a national key turned into an important milestone in the formation of the German national idea of the early modern era.
Byzantine Persians and “Persian” Churches in Byzantium
Authors: Shukurov Rustam
Published: January 2025

The article focuses on the underestimated presence of Persians in Byzantine culture after the Muslim conquests of the seventh century, challenging the prevailing scholarly narrative on Byzantine-Eastern relations. By analyzing Byzantine perceptions of ancient Persians and contemporary Persian-Muslim culture, the author identifies the role of Persian motifs in Byzantine religious thought and reconstructs the memory of Persian martyrs in church tradition. The author discusses the existence of churches in Byzantium dedicated to Persian martyrs, where their relics were preserved. Analysis of poetic calendars, names, and sigillography provides additional material for reconstructing Byzantine memory of Persian martyrs from the eleventh to the fifteenth centuries. Persian saints were integrated into Byzantine religious memory, with some Byzantines adopting their names for baptism or monasticism. Sigillography indicates instances of association between certain standard Byzantine baptismal names and Persian saints. Despite centuries having passed, Persian saints continued to be revered by ordinary Byzantines and played a significant role in religious memory. The discussed material significantly revises our understanding of Byzantine cultural identity.
Expert Economic Knowledge and Practices in Early Modern Russia
Authors: Dadykina Margarita
Published: January 2025

The Russian economy in the early modern times experienced the formation of new forms of economic activity, including monasteries becoming important “players” that concentrated significant economic resources in their hands, and the most actively developing region included in trade operations with local and foreign merchants — Russian North. A new type of economy required a new model and tools for managing it: accounting and control over resources, timely access to up-to-date information, skills in complex logistics, and communication. Using the example of monastic documentation, the article examines the problem of the formation and use of expert knowledge, primarily in the field of managing early forms of production and the financial sector.
On the History of Education in Northern Greece in the 18th Century: Educational Manuscripts from Macedonia and Thessaly in the Russian State Library
Authors: Shegoleva Lyudmila
Published: January 2025

The paper examines educational manuscripts of the 18th century from Northern Greece, stored in the Russian State Library. The structure and content of the manuscripts are considered, and references are given to the books printed in 17th — 18th centuries, which became a source for some articles. The scribal records, as well as later records and owner's marks are analyzed. The geography of the origin and existence of the manuscripts is traced: the towns of Naousa and Veria and the village of Galatista in Central Macedonia, the village of Kleinovos in Thessaly. It is established that at the early 18th century, a teacher Ioannikios was teaching students in Naousa according to the secondary school program: reading and interpreting writings of ancient Greek authors, works of Church fathers, liturgical canons and letters. This is the earliest documented evidence of school education in Naousa. Information is provided about the scribe Ioannnes Papachristou from the village of Kleinovos, as well as about the owners of the manuscripts: the “prodromite” Makarios from Galatista, hieromonk of the monastery of John the Baptist, and Manuel Anastasiades, a doctor from Veria.
The Last Will of the Deceased as the Subject of Litigation in Novgorod at the Beginning of the 17th Century
Authors: Popova Elizaveta
Published: January 2025

Investigative cases and litigation over property disputes are quite common at all times, and the period of the Swedish occupation of Novgorod was no exception. In the research, the author refers to the petition compiled by the merchant Jakim Kuzmin in Novgorod at the beginning of the 17th century, which is kept in the archive of the St. Petersburg Institute of History of the Russian Academy of Sciences. The text of the petition contains a complaint and an attempt to challenge the last will of the deceased father-in-law of the petitioner by his heirs. In addition to the petition, the document contains the will itself, drawn up before the death of the deceased by himself. A thorough analysis of the document was carried out, a short form of the last will of the beginning of the 17th century was compiled according to available data in comparison with the texts of last wills of other eras. It was found that the texts of the wills transformed slightly over time, preserving the general form and the conceptual basis of the narrative.
The Monk and the City: the Problem of Monastic Stillness (ἡσυχία) in the Correspondence of Irene Choumnaina and Gregory Akindynos
Authors: Matveeva Alevtina
Published: January 2025

Byzantine spiritual epistolography distinguished by a high level of narrative abstraction contains few details that allow for the reconstruction of the daily life. An unexpected opportunity for such reconstruction is provided by the Late Byzantine correspondence between Irene-Eulogia Choumnaina and Gregory Akindynos where one of the topics discussed is the challenge of implementing stillness (ἡσυχία) within the conditions of city life. This epistolary collection dating from the period between 1333—1338 reflects the communication of two citizens of Constantinople: Akindynos, a monk of the monastery of Athanasius, and Irene Choumnaina, abbess of the monastery of Christ Philanthropos Soter. This correspondence combines the features of intellectual Byzantine epistolography with the genre characteristics inherent in spiritual letters. The correspondents embody both the roles of intellectual epistolographers and those of spiritual father and spiritual daughter. The question of the hesychast ideal of stillness is not raised during the abstract instructions of the confessor but emerges situationally during the discussion between Choumnaina and Akindynos about the frequency of their personal meetings. Analysis of the correspondents’ argumentation demonstrates the variability of attitudes towards stillness in the Late Byzantine monastic-intellectual environment. Gregory Akindynos interprets stillness as a way of life advocating for minimized communication and less time spent in crowded city areas in favor of solitude in one’s cell. On the other hand, Irene Choumnaina having a high status and extensive connections with the metropolitan elite tends to integrate elements of hesychast practices with regular personal meetings driven by the desire to maintain socialization within the monastic context.
“River Ice above and Below the City Has Passed”: Development of Waterways in the Neva Region at the Beginning of the Great Northern War
Authors: Bazarova Tatiana
Published: January 2025

The paper is devoted to the problems of obtaining, the “mechanism” for transferring, generalizing and using knowledge about the natural and climatic features of the lands conquered from Sweden during the Great Northern War (1700—1721) and became part of the Ingermanland province. The beginning of the development of waterways in the Neva region is associated with military actions, when the Russian command needed to organize the transportation of people and cargo. The main information about waterways came from local residents — landowners, traders and peasants. Shipyards were founded on the rivers flowing into Lake Ladoga, where the first ships of the Baltic Fleet were built. The development of waterways included not only measuring river depths, clarifying fairways, but also observing the weather. Analysis of reports from Shlisselburg commandant Poroshin to Menshikov allowed to establish that his duties included ensuring the safe passage of ships past the fortress, as well as immediately informing the governor and the St Petersburg chief commandant about changes in weather conditions on Lake Ladoga. During the Great Northern War, topographical study of the Neva region was carried out simultaneously with its economic development. By the end of the reign of Peter I, the Neva turned into the main transport artery of St Petersburg, and a system to inform the city residents about the time of opening and freezing of the river was established.
Topography of Greek Education in Russia at the End of the 17th — First Third of the 18th Century According to Manuscript Sources
Authors: Ramazanova Jamilia
Published: January 2025

The present article deals with the emergence and spread of Greek education in the Russian state in the late seventeenth and first third of the eighteenth centuries. It is proposed to distinguish several stages in this process, within which it is possible to trace the changes in the topography of this phenomenon. The significant changes consisted in the fact that the teaching of the Greek language and Greek book writing spread from the capital center of education, founded by the Leichudes brothers, to other cities of the country. Novgorod became the next after Moscow in this process. The cultural phenomenon studied in this article is examined on the basis of the identified manuscript sources, which included various teaching aids. These sources make it possible to clarify the peculiarities of the study of Greek language and culture by Russian students in the schools of the Leichudes brothers and their followers.
On the Issue of the Union of Russian Military Invalids (Temporarily Abroad)
Authors: Volodko Anna
Published: January 2025

The article is devoted to a charitable organisation — the Union of Russian Military Invalids (temporarily abroad) in the period 1920—1922. In December 1920, the first organisational meeting of disabled refugees took place, at which it was decided to establish the Union of Russian Military Invalids (temporarily abroad). A board headed by General of Cavalry V. S. Baranovsky was elected. In May 1921, by order of Lieutenant General Baron P. N. Wrangel, General of Cavalry N. N. Baratov became the chairman of the new board. The board began active work. The article deals with the procedure of the Union's activity: the purpose of establishment, organisational structure; the procedure of joining, holding meetings; the rights and obligations of full members, candidates for full members, the Board, etc.; financial support of the Board and the Union's activity.
Vexillological Representation of Craft Guilds Authorities in the Russian Empire
Authors: Perekhodenko Kirill
Published: January 2025

Russian craft guilds were organized under entirely different conditions than Eastern European corporations, mostly because they were designed to serve entirely different purposes. However, some working principles of European guilds were borrowed and applied in the Russian Empire. One of such particular features well adopted into Russian craft culture is tradition of vexillological representation. The article deals with peculiarities of craft guilds banners in Russia, investigates their appearance and application including representative, identification and decorative functions through Russian guild signs, known as “znachiks”.
One Among Many: the Union of Flanders and Namur in 1421/1429
Authors: Mayzlish Anna
Published: January 2025

During 11th — early 15th centuries personal unions repeatedly connected numerous principalities that existed on the territory of the Low Countries. Many of them soon dissolved, but some proved to be quite stable. Possibly the existence of several such personal unions facilitated the subordination of the greater part of the region to the power of the Valois dukes of Burgundy in the late 14th — the second half of the 15th century. The lands under their rule also at first can be considered as united almost only as a personal union. The article deals with the emergence of the union between Namur and Flanders. It became a result of the sale by Jean III, the count of Namur, of all his possessions to Philip the Good, the duke of Burgundy and the count of Flanders, in 1421. The Flemish provided their lord with the financial support to make this purchase, which was most likely the reason why the union between Namur and Flanders was not to be dissolved in future. The Flemings also got the opportunity to take part in the administration of Namur, unlike the inhabitants of Philip the Good’s other possessions. At the same time, the documents relating to the sale of Namur and the union between Namur and Flanders reflect the memory of the union between two counties that existed for several decades under the count Guy de Dampierre at the second half of the 13th century.
On the Privileges of the Cinque Ports: Regulation of Food Trade During the 14th — 16th Centuries
Authors: Anisimova Anna
Published: January 2025

The article analyses the statute of Richard II (6 Richard II, stat. 1, c. 9) concerning the prohibition of victualling for the urban officials as long as they remain in official capacity and its local application on the example of the towns-members of the Confederation of the Cinque Ports, a highly privileged association of ports in the south-east England. The study of the urban charters and custumals of the 14th — 16th centuries has revealed that the statute of 1382 was not evidenced in them, and moreover, some custumals contain the articles that are in direct contradiction with it, as they allow the officials participation in this trade. In 1505, the Confederation made an attempt to get permission for their officials to legally sell and buy victuals. They insisted that this statute induced mass refusal to take on the office by the townspeople, even though the Ports had punitive legislation on this point, and such refusal led to a severe punishment, even to the destruction of the house. Theywerenotsuccessful. However, eventually the solution was created by the confederation itself, as they introduced a new official — clerk of the market — in the 16th-century general custumal of the Cinque Ports.
India in Plans of the Communist International and the Communist Party of Great Britain in the Middle of 1920s
Authors: Prokopov Alexander
Published: January 2025

This article is written in the main on the basis of archival documents. The author could reveal how the leaders of the Communist International tried to spread its influence among Indians in the middle of 1920s. The main executer of these Comintern plans was the Communist Party of Great Britain (CPGB). Its activists carried on agitation in Indian trade unions, among unorganized workers in India, among Indian sailors and students in Britain, supported the Communist Party of India (which was established in 1925), British Communists also carries on oral and printed propaganda. But they did not succeed in this activity. General weakness  and small in number of the CPGB, considerable difficulties in establishing of connections with Indians, including members of the Communist Party of India — all these did not permit British Communists to win over to their side the noticeable part of the 300 millions of population of India and direct anti colonial protest actions of Indian people into revolutionary struggle.
The Partition of Ireland: Past and Present
Authors: Polyakova Elena
Published: January 2025

The debates about the Irish unity initiated in the country the interest in its imperial history, about its place and meaning in colonial empire and about the methods and tools of British policy. The article deals with the interaction of past and present in Irish history, the influence of revolution 1916—1923 and related to it partition of Ireland on Brexit problem. It is considered in detail on the documentary basis the main stages of creation  two Irish states — the Irish  Free State dominion and Northern Ireland as autonomous entity in the United Kingdom. The special attention is paid to the ratification of the Anglo-Irish treaty of 1921 in British and Irish parliaments.
The “Soft Power” of the British Empire in the 20th Century
Authors: Naumov Aleksandr
Published: January 2025

The article studies the key institutions and the main directions of the “soft power” strategy of the British Empire in the 20th century. The activity and historical significance of such structures as the British Council, the BBC, Oxfam and the Commonwealth of Nations are analyzed. The author comes to the conclusion that the “soft power” technologies developed by London in the first half of the 20th century were very effective in maintaining the stability of the imperial project, and later contributed to its modernization and transformation. In the past century, Great Britain has managed to accumulate resources and develop mechanisms that today allow it to be considered one of the world leaders in the field of “soft power”.
Legal Regimes in Africa Between the XXth Century World Wars in the Estimates of the Council on Foreign Relations Experts
Authors: Nesterov Dmitrii
Published: January 2025

The article analyzes the positions of Council on Foreign Relations experts on a wide variety of issues relating to Africa’s legal regimes in the interwar period, including such issues as the role of international law and organizations, the limitation of colonial rule by extending the mandate system across the continent, interracial relations, the dynamics of electoral law, and labor, fiscal and economic legal relations. The features of expert analysis, ideological and political attitudes to the analysis of legal systems in Africa are highlighted. Special attention is paid to expert assessments and recommendations of the analysts of the Council on Foreign Relations, taking into account the general historical and political context and their own geopolitical interests.
Colony, Protectorate, Federation? British Policy in Aden and South Arabia, 1958—1962
Authors: Rumyantsev Vladimir
Published: January 2025

This article examines the UK’s policy of maintaining control over the colony of Aden and the protectorates of South Arabia in 1958—1962. This period is interesting because at the turn of the 1950s and 1960s that the authorities of the United Kingdom were close to an innovative attempt to transform their influence by granting self-government status to Aden while simultaneously including it in a federation with the principalities of South Arabia. In this way, the UK planned to counter the integration processes in the south of the Arabian Peninsula with the irredentist plans of neighboring Yemen. The reluctance to take risks and the desire to preserve their military base in Aden at any cost crossed out these attempts, forcing the UK government to adhere to the traditional imperial policy of playing on the contradictions of the existing political elites of urban Aden and the tribal South of Arabia.
The Second Independence or the West’s Failed Attempts to Restore Colonialism in Africa (on the Example of the Former Colonies of France)
Authors: Sidorova Galina
Published: January 2025

The attempts of Western countries, former metropolises in Africa, to restore their former influence in African states in the new geopolitical conditions are proving to be ineffective. African political elites have “matured” and are already quite capable of solving their national problems on their own. They came to understand what lies beneath the so-called paternalistic relationship that their patrons have been talking about for decades. African politicians now have an alternative of whom to choose and with whom to build their relations in order to achieve progress and preserve their identity. The purpose of the article is to reveal the efforts of Western countries to keep the authority and, possibly, the primary role in the former colonies, using specific examples; to identify significant changes in the political life of the states of the African continent, where leaders and the state bodies are legitimately elected. At the same time, against the backdrop of massive pressure on African states from Western countries, it is necessary to prove that favorable conditions exist now for Russia, as a time-tested partner, in Africa. The author comes to the conclusion that the time of colonialism has passed. A point of no return to the past has come, when the rich resources of the continent were illegally exploited. The events taking place in Africa are quite natural and reflect the philosophical concept of the dialectic of the state. In other words, it is a natural process of dialectics.
Nikolai Vasilievich Isakov’s Mission to Munich, Stuttgart and Dresden in the Summer of 1854 and Its Role for the Neutrality of the German Confederation in the Crimean War
Authors: Datsenko Pavel
Published: January 2025

The article is devoted to the ensuring the neutrality of the states of the German Confederation in 1854, for which Russia, in addition to the efforts of its diplomats, resorted also to unofficial but demonstrative initiatives. Among them was the trip of the aide-de-camp of Emperor Nicholas I, Colonel Nikolai Vasilyevich Isakov with a special mission to Bavaria, Württemberg and Saxony. This trip took place in a particularly difficult situation of the growth of Austria’s militant rhetoric and the uncertainty regarding the Russian reaction to it. Isakov’s trip, therefore, despite its formal courier purpose, played a significant informational and communicative role in the dialogue between Russia and the German states. It is shown in the article that Isakov enjoyed the great attention of various politicians and diplomats during his visits to the German capitals, participating in conversations with them on various political topics, collecting information and giving numerous explanations about the goals and objectives of Nicholas’ policy in the escalating military conflict. These contacts allowed German politicians and Russian diplomats to better guide themselves in the tense situation when Austria’s pressure was put on both Russia and the German Confederation.
Imposed Unity or Social Harmony? On the Socialist Construction Influence on the Forming of the East German Identity
Authors: Yablokov Boris
Published: January 2025

Whether Germans were able to maintain their national unity during the years of postwar “disengagement” remains an ongoing question today. The painful adaptation of East Germany to the realities of the market economy led to the dismantling of the GDR's value system, and the historical memory of the GDR was also subjected to significant revision, which was facilitated by the promotion of the image of the GDR as the “SED dictatorship” in the official historiography and socio-political discourse of the FRG. These factors combined led to the social alienation of Germans in the two parts of Germany united in 1990. Today, we can see from the growing popularity of “ostalgic” sentiments in the “new” federal states that the “gains of socialism” have proved to be a stronger bond than previously imagined, which is especially evident in the context of the crisis of multiculturalism. Active socio-economic changes and cultural transformations aimed at strengthening the sovereignty of the GDR contributed to the consolidation of the ideologues underlying the concept of socialist construction in the public consciousness, which promoted the notion of a special East German otherness. In this respect, the problem of the influence of the socio-economic model on the formation of national identity requires serious research, since the results of such a study can be applied not only to German history, but will also reveal the mechanisms of self-determination of the society.
Liberalism versus Communism: the Soviet Union through the Lens of American Cartoons During the Cold War
Authors: Zhuravleva Victoriya
Published: January 2025

The article aims to research the role American political cartoons played in the US — USSR Cold war confrontation. The study focuses on cartoons as a mass source whose genre made for prompt and large-scale effect on the audience. The investigation draws on well-known cartoonists’ works published in national and regional media outlets that actively engaged in visualizing the liberal universalist discourse. Additionally, the cartoonists’ works represented the entire range of personified and generalized images of the Soviet Union as the “dark double” of the US. The article uses the constructivist approach to consider cartoons as a social construct, identify the most popular images of the USSR, and explain why these particular images were foreground in US cartoons while highlighting their juxtaposition with US self-images. Discourse analysis leads to the conclusion that throughout the Cold war, antitheses remained the basic elements of the entire repertoire of meanings. These antitheses stressed the advantages of the US liberal message compared to the Soviet communist one. Consequently, liberalism was contrasted with totalitarianism, liberty with lack of rights, and faith with atheism. Simultaneously, semiotic analysis describes the semantics of images that mark the visual space of Soviet hostility and appeal to Americans’ basic emotions.
On the Genealogy of the Concept of “Abendland” in the Programs of the CDU, CSU and AfD Political Parties
Authors: Yurin Alexander
Published: January 2025

For many years, the concept of “Abendland” has served to describe the cultural otherness of Western countries, an exceptional path of historical, civilizational and socio-political development, but it also acted as a concept of political struggle. The complex of images and cultural references attached to this concept, referring to the medieval history of Europe, the Crusades, Western Christianity, political continuity dating back to Ancient Rome, common culture, etc., not only affects ideas about the German culture and the European Union boundaries, but also suggests associated images of the enemy which developed over the course of history: pagans, the Muslim East, Turkey, Mongols, Tatars, Soviet Russia, the USSR, communism, and later poorly integrated immigrants. This article is devoted to the study of the change in the semantics of the concept of “Abendland” in the program texts of the CDU, CSU and AfD political parties after the unification of Germany in 1990. This paper also provides a brief outlook into the history of the concept of “Abendland” in order to mark a number of explicit and suggestive meanings associated with it. As a result of the analysis of the programs of the largest political parties such as CDU, CSU and AfD, it was possible to explore how the concept of “Abendland” and its derivatives play a key role in the vision and formulation of a number of domains of both domestic and foreign policy, be it social, cultural, migration policy or issues of European integration and EU enlargement.
Colonial Law: Realising Ideas of Superiority in the Legal Systems of Colonial Empires
Authors: Mirzekhanov Velikhan
Published: January 2025

The article presents an analysis of the legal systems and legal regimes that were in operation in the European colonies during the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. The author examines the impact of colonialism on the comprehensive range of political, individual and other rights of the population in metropolises and colonies during the colonial era. In order to gain insight into the complex and multifaceted nature of this issue, a case study approach is employed, focusing on France and its colonial empire. The author highlights the fact that the concept of political and legal citizenship has consistently either incorporated or excluded foreigners, whereas the native inhabitants of the colonies (indigènes) have been unequivocally excluded. Throughout the colonial era, ideas and practices of differentiation, exclusion, segregation, and everyday racism towards the indigenous populations of the colonies continued to be normative. The European concept of superiority and privilege was reflected in the intricate and chaotic legal systems that were based on an expansive array of legal principles, norms, and sources. The author underscores the fact that the legal status of individuals within a colonial society was contingent upon their origin, including racial identity. The formation of civic consciousness and the construction of a two-tiered racial society were significantly influenced by colonial culture and the legal system that emerged from it. This system created a social structure comprising two distinct levels: one in which individuals were initially capable of embracing ideas of citizenship and one in which such ideas could only be embraced through assimilation. Throughout the colonial period, despite the active rapprochement and diversity of communicative practices between the “men of the empire” and the local non-European population, the legal system in the colonies was predicated on principles of inequality and discrimination. The legal systems and legal regimes that were in place in the colonies and mandated territories unconditionally supported the unequal and inferior status of the indigenous population unconditionally. The legal norms and principles of the colonial empires can be characterised by Jürgen Osterhammel’s concept of “global dualism”, which suggests that while civilised norms of law were applied in the metropolises of Europe, the territories of colonies and dependent countries saw the rule of cruelty and injustice.
Russian Historical Science in the Context of Science Diplomacy
Authors: Chubaryan Alexander
Published: January 2025

In the 21st century, many experts in different countries of the world began to use the term ‘science diplomacy’, meaning not only international cooperation of scientists in different scientific fields, but a full-fledged scientific discipline with its own methodology. The article examines the main milestones in the history of the development of science diplomacy, provides distinctive characteristics of the main schools and trends with an emphasis on determining the role of Russian historical science in this process. In particular, the authors draw attention to two important documents. The report ‘New Frontiers in Science Diplomacy’, published in 2010 by the Royal Society of London jointly with the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), became the embodiment of the American-British view of science diplomacy, the main weakness of which is, in fact, the identification of science diplomacy with ‘soft power’, which greatly narrows the scope of the discipline and is aimed more at protecting one's own interests than at the development of science. In 2019, the Madrid Declaration was adopted – European concept of science diplomacy, which is characterized by the perception of science diplomacy as a complex process aimed at finding solutions to international and global problems. Russian historical science, starting from the Cold War, played a significant role in the development of science diplomacy. The active participation of Soviet scientists in various commissions on social sciences with the United States and European countries, as well as in the activities of the International Committee of Historical Sciences, became important elements in establishing a dialogue between the opposing systems. At the present stage of development, Russian historical science continues to be one of the most important components of science diplomacy. It was in Moscow that the meeting of the General Assembly of the International Committee of Historical Sciences was held in 2017, and in 2021 — the first ever World Congress of School History Teachers. Joint textbooks with Germany, Austria and Poland published within the framework of the functioning of bilateral historical commissions also became examples of genuine science diplomacy. After being held in Russia in 2023—2024 a number of significant scientific events devoted to the issues of forming a new world order, we can talk about the formation of a Moscow platform for meetings of historians, which will continue to develop in the coming years.
“My Contribution to History is the Face That I Saved”: the Anniversary of Academician A. B. Davidson on the Ural Land
Authors: Vysokova Veronika
Published: January 2025

On September 6, 2024, the Ural Federal University hosted an international scientific seminar dedicated to the 95th anniversary of academician of the Russian Academy of Sciences Apollon Borisovich Davidson. The participants and the reports reflected the wide range of interests and versatility of A. B. Davidson's talent. Focusing on the main areas of his research, the organizers of the seminar divided the reports into three thematic panels: “The British Empire in the 18th — 20th centuries: from an idea to world domination”, “Africa at the crossroads of cultures and civilizations” and “Colonial and postcolonial discourse in literature”. Discussions about British history, the colonial past and postcolonial present of African states, and the literary traditions of former colonies have demonstrated a number of pressing issues that concern contemporary researchers.
Recognition of Palestine as Non-member State Observer at the UN: at the Crossroads of French and Russian Political Interests
Authors: Zhidkova Aleksandra
Published: January 2025

In November 2012, the General Assembly of UN granted Palestine a new status as an observer state. Among the countries that spoke in favor of this decision were two states that traditionally have their own interests in the Middle East — France and Russia. Despite the commonality of the decision, the construction of the French and Russian positions on the Palestinian issue took place in different conditions. The article analyzes how France's course regarding the legal status of Palestine was formed under F. Hollande. The author also considers what commonalities existed between the positions of Paris and Moscow and what separated the states from joint initiatives in the context of the Palestinian issue.