Nation-building and Identity Politics in Contemporary Russia - Student Policy Papers

As the outcome of the Nation-building in Contemporary Russia course, students are expected to submit a 2,000-word policy paper in which they describe the problem that needs solving, elaborate its background, explain why the problem is important, identify deficiencies in current policies, and propose tweaks to them or a radical change of strategic direction, projecting outcomes. Students define their own projects and independently research them under the mentorship of the course tutor, Dr Guzel Yusupova.

Academic year 2018-19

The five best policy papers submitted during the academic year 2018-19 are (in alphabetical order, by surname):

'The Rapid Rise of HIV/AIDs in Russia: Educating the Masses about Safe Sex' by Katherine Davis, finalist based at MLAC graduating in 2019 with a BA in Modern Languages and Cultures.

• The Rapid Rise of HIV/AIDs in Russia policy paper (.pdf)

'The Pen is Mightier than the Sword: Discourse over Repression as a Means of Preventing Religious Hate Crimes' by Rosalind Firth, finalist based at MLAC graduating in 2019 with a BA in Modern Languages and Cultures.

• The Pen is Mightier than the Sword’ policy paper (.pdf)

'A Lack of Integration and Negative Perceptions of Labour Migrants in Russia: Fracturing Labour Supply' by Sean M. Hannigan, second-year student based at Durham University Business School, working towards a BA in Philosophy, Politics and Economics.

• A Lack of Integration and Negative Perceptions of Labour Migrants in Russia policy paper (.pdf)

'"Without Freedom, There is No Creation" - Liberating the Arts in Russia to Stimulate Cultural Development' by Isla McCay, second-year student based at SGIA, working towards a BA in Philosophy, Politics and Economics.

• Without freedom, there is no creation policy paper (.pdf)

'Inclusive Social Housing to Address Segregation of Migrants and Sustain Economic Development in Saint Petersburg' by Andrea Vismara, second-year student based at SGIA, working towards a BA in Philosophy, Politics and Economics.

• Inclusive social housing to address segregation of migrants and sustain economic development in Saint-Petersburg policy paper (.pdf)

Academic year 2017-18

The three best policy papers submitted during the academic year 2017-18 are (in alphabetical order, by surname):

'Where There's No Will, There's No Way: Incentivising Migrants to Learn Russian' by Kamila Godzinska, finalist based at MLAC, graduating in 2018 with a BA in Modern Languages and Cultures.

• Where There's No Will, There's No Way policy paper (.pdf)

'Crimean Tatars in Russia: Religious Freedom and Security' by Arina Kalyavina, second-year student based at SGIA, working towards a BA in Philosophy, Politics and Economics.

• Crimean Tatars in Russia policy paper (.pdf)

'The Rise of Racist Violence by Extreme Nationalist Groups in The Russian Federation' by Gala Perkins, finalist based at SGIA, graduating in 2018 with a BA in Philosophy, Politics and Economics.

• The Rise of Racist Violence by Extreme Nationalist Groups in The Russian Federation policy paper (.pdf)