Circulation of Knowledge and the Russian Locale

摘要: On 26 May 2006, at the Centre d'etudes des mondes russe, caucasien et centre-europeen in Paris, a symposium titled "Circulation of Knowledge and History Human Sciences Russia USSR" opened with frisson excitement. This was first public attempt by scholars interested development humanities social sciences (Soviet) to engage research agenda on "circulation knowledge." (1) Although circulation knowledge has been, as one authority put it, "recurrent concept" history science, (2) notable exception concept had yet be applied study Russian/Soviet knowledge. (3) As befits foray, call for papers organizers open-ended: "We wish examine detail processes which circulated, well changes meaning that particular concepts or approaches underwent result being translated or, more broadly, reinterpreted national interpretive context different from environment these were originally developed." (4) Like all "firsts," encounter not only advantages priority but also its perils. Could conceptual approach developed "Western" knowledge/science fruitfully extended movement Russian Soviet ideas across borders? How might case inform our understanding process itself? (5) The English-language field studies been no stranger scholarship scientific technological geographic, political, disciplinary borders. last half 20th century saw excellent work comparison ideas, (6) diffusion reception Western West, (7) interaction between scientists their colleagues abroad. (8) In conceiving "center" "periphery," science technology fell squarely within reigning paradigm science. Far less attention devoted Soviet/Russian (9)--a function both disinterest (dismissal of) relative underdevelopment research. large fascinating literature remains beyond purview this article. Given strength how we understand appeal students engaging knowledge"? While inherent attraction novelty can never underestimated, evidence suggests there is here than simple craving unscaled mountains. my view, Russianists, engagement knowledge" what I term "project inclusion" real potential bring into family cases covered an honed societies. To sure, hardly brush project type. 30 years alone, have seen efforts introduce series flameworks: pluralism, (10) civil society, (11) most recently, multiple modernities. (12) These projects inclusion are particularly appealing because, addition political valence, they "legs." referred differ professional profile specialists who advanced them impact thinking non-specialists broader fields history, appear follow roughly similar life course: initial enthusiastic embrace Russia; application wide range empirical material emergence hyphenated modified versions original accommodate specifics case; acknowledgment although match "perfect," value added applying frame considerable. …