Ideas and Ideals

At the round table the theme "Siberia as a megaregion" was discussed which had first been announced at the Krasnoyarsk forum. A number of problems are analyzed, starting with the geographic boundaries of Siberia, and thus identifying the geopolitical settings of the mega-region. The depth of historical time was discussed, as well as the common history, and the problem of coexistence of different peoples. Besides, the problem of comparison of different megaregions, and the problem of their correlation with states was considered. What can be seen as the commonality, the identity of the mentality of the population of megaregion? The difference was discussed between megaregion and macro-region, which is primarily determined economically. Specifically was considered from different aspects the problem of the center of the gravity of megaregion with respect to Siberia. The role of innovation in the energy sector was analyzed as the key of a gradual transition from oil and gas to coal. Focusing on demographic and economic issues the participants related, in particular, to the programmes of complex development of Siberia, which were quite badly performed, and on the geopolitical consequences of current trends of population migration to the European part of Russia.

At the round table the problem was discussed of using mathematical methods in the analysis of historical process, or methods of historical macrosociology. On the one hand, it is obvious that in the history different societies have certain regularity, which can be examined by statistical methods. This applies to demographic waves as well as to certain economic realities, etc. For instance, we can point to the Kondratieff’s waves. If we take it for granted, it appears that it is possible to speak about the corresponding laws. However two problems appear straight away – the quality of data on which to rely, and the ratio of the peculiarities of the history of some particular societies and the general laws which characterize any society. Economists, the most advanced in application of mathematics, are building system models, while historians are just approaching to this. There is inductive approach to these issues as well, when historians use statistics to analyze certain specific processes. Also such issues were discussed such as the transformation of professional history into applied political science, which is certainly counterproductive from the point of view of science as such, and the problem of the access to the archives. In addition, it was indicated that there is a deep connection between historical research and such complex discipline as adaptology. Participants also discussed the problems of interpretation of historical data and the status of social sciences in general.

The materials of the round table “Fifty years after N.S. Khrushchev” are presented. The round table
took place on 17 April 2014 at Novosibirsk State University at the plenary session of the section “History”
in the framework of the yearly International Student Scientifi c Conference. Fundamental questions were
discussed of the reasons and prerequisites of “the thaw”, its historical signifi cance and its lessons. It
was noted that knowledge of this period is insuffi cient, as long as there is the absence of fundamental
historical research, and the problems with understanding of many moments of the history of “the
thaw”. Priority is given to political, economic, and other aspects of the process of “de-Stalinization”. The contradictions of the policy of N.S. Khrushchev are discussed which was expressed in its progressive along with conservative trends. The phenomenon of “the thaw” demonstrates certain regularities of the Russian history: the liberalization of the regime was weakening the state, and the stabilization of the state was accompanying by increasingly authoritarian tendencies. According to some speakers the growing maturity of the Russian society provides some hope for the positive outcome of this contradiction.

The discussion was attended by the historians and economists: Professor Kuznetsov I.S. (Novosibirsk State University (NSU); Professor G.I. Khanin; Dr. Sciences (History) N.N. Ablazhei (Inst. of History of Siberian Branch of Russian Academy of Sciences (IH SB RAS, NSU), Cand. of Sciences (History) O.N. Kalinina (Institute of History, RAS); Professor V.I. Isaev (IH SB RAS), Professor S.А. Krasilnikov (NSU).