Основы российской государственности для иностранных студентов, обучающихся по программам на английском языке. The foundations of Russian statehood for
.pdfPREFACE
The modern course “The foundations of Russian statehood”, which Russian freshmen get acquainted on the threshold of student life, is able to become a compass for foreign students, helping them more confidently to navigate in the new Russian reality for them. Already the first section of the course answers the question: what is Russia? So, through the prism of traditions and values, foreign students begin to comprehend the soul of Russian society. The knowledge gained is the key to successful communication and understanding with Russian citizens.
Studying the course is not just obtaining information, it is the cultivation and strengthening of political culture. “The foundations of Russian statehood” teach to analyze complex political processes, to see the principles of democracy, the rights and the construction of the political system of Russia behind the facade of events. This is the key to the formation of a healthy and constructive political atmosphere in the country.
The training materials collected in the manual allow you to create a multifaceted image of Russia-a cultural, technological and socially economic-de- veloped power. Each section of the course is a step towards understanding the cultural and historical code of the Russian nation, that invisible, but strong foundation on which the country's identity is.
Ultimately, the study of the “The foundations of Russian statehood” for foreign students is an invitation to dialogue, the opportunity to penetrate with interest and respect for Russia. We sincerely believe that the information collected in this manual will arouse sincere sympathy in foreign students, deep respect for the rich and complex historical path of Russia. Thus, knowledge of the foundations of Russian statehood becomes a reliable bridge connecting foreign students with the new environment, helping them adapt, develop the necessary skills and form a positive perception of Russia. The training course
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is a kind of key to understanding not only history and culture, but also the mentality of Russians.
The materials of the manual are presented in English with a carefully adapted translation into Russian, which makes it a valuable tool for students, whose level of ownership of the Russian language is still not high enough.
The textbook is supplemented by a thematic dictionary that facilitates the understanding of key terms and concepts. Each section ends with a list of questions for self -control and creative tasks designed to stimulate the practical application of the knowledge gained. Thus, the manual will become an indispensable assistant not only for students, but also for teachers of the course “The foundations of Russian Statehood”.
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Information resources of the course “the foundations of Russian statehood”
In the preparation of this textbook, we faced a challenge: the adapted textbook on the course “The foundations of Russian statehood” for foreign students, unfortunately, was not found. Existing literature was available only in Russian. However, we tried to create a kind of "information map" that will help to navigate in studying the course.
Start your trip to the course of acquaintance with Russia through the prism of country's texts. The starting point can be, for example, the tourist portal of the Novosibirsk Region7.
Immerse yourself in the atmosphere of this region, having studied its geography, population, climate, flora and fauna. Discover unique reserves, cultural treasures and exciting tourist routes.
But remember, the most reliable compass in the knowledge of the soul of Russia is communication with its inhabitants. Foreign students often note that it is the immersion in the Russian language and conversations with peers that open the doors to them in understanding Russian culture. Do not miss the opportunity to make small "sorties" on weekends to see the city attractions with your own eyes and feel the pulse of life.
Acquaintance with Russian culture, especially with its classical heritage, will allow you to touch the traditional values of Russians. Pay attention to the translations of the works of Evgeny Grishkovts, a modern Russian author, whose work helps to understand the subtleties of the Russian soul8.
7Tourist Portal of the Novosibirsk Region https://turizm.nso.ru/ru (date of appeal 03.03.2025)
8https: // vk.COM/CLUB230154281? FROM = Groups (date of circulation 03.28.2025)
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Culinary traditions are an important part of the cultural code of any people. Russian cuisine is a kaleidoscope of tastes, reflecting the variety of nationalities inhabiting the country. To feel like a real Siberian, look at the page of the “gastronomic stories”9 and discover the secrets of preparing authentic Siberian dishes.
Do not miss the opportunity to plunge into the atmosphere of Russia at the beginning of the 20th century, considering the collection of photographs created by the outstanding photographer Sergei Mikhailovich ProkudinGorsky10. His work is a unique window into the past, which allows you to see the life of the peoples of Russia in all its diversity.
To get deeper into the Russian mentality, refer to art and documentary films. In this training manual, we offer only a small selection, which, of course, does not claim to be full.
Remember, our recommendations are just a starting point. Be curious, be interested in the events that take place around you, and then you can know Russia faster and deeper – a country with a richest history and culture.
9https://vk.com/club230154281?from=groups (date of circulation 03/28/2025)
10https://pantv.livejournal.com/3877181.html (date of appeal 28.03.2025)
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S E C T I O N 1. WHAT IS RUSSIA?
Russia is a country on the world map
Russia is a self-sufficient, strong, independent country.
The Russian Federation is the largest state on the political map of the world. Our country has a land border with 16 states, and borders the United States and Japan by sea. The history of Russian statehood dates back at least twelve centuries. From the invitation of the Varangians to Novgorod in 862, which indicates that the ancient Russians already had a proto-state to the most powerful empire, which was formed in the 18th and 19th centuries. The history of the twentieth century includes the period when the former territories of the Russian Empire acquired the right to national self-determination. But the period between the two World Wars was the time when the territories were united into the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. It was a state of union republics based on the national principle: Azerbaijani, Armenian, Belarusian, Georgian, Kazakh, Kyrgyz, Latvian, Lithuanian, Moldavian, Tajik, Turkmen, Uzbek, Ukrainian, Estonian. The RSFSR (Russia) had the status of a federal republic, as it currently does. National and cultural traditions were maintained in all republics. Schools were created, newspapers, books and magazines were printed in national languages, and local creative intelligentsia received support. The economic problems of the 80s and early 90s of the last century led to the collapse of the USSR However, in terms of population, Russia is inferior to the People's Republic of China (PRC), the United States of America (USA), India, Indonesia, Pakistan, Nigeria, Brazil, Bangladesh and Mexico. According to Rosstat estimates, as of January 1, 2025, 146,119,928 people lived in Russia and the country ranked ninth in the
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world in terms of population. The quality of life of Russians largely depends on the climatic and economic conditions in a particular region. The Russian Federation consists of 89 subjects, which differ in the scale of the territory and the characteristics of the population. In Russia, the national-territorial principle of division into subjects is used (see Appendix No. 1 for a complete list of administrative divisions of the country). The subjects are united into eight federal districts: Central, Northwestern, Southern, North Caucasian, Volga, Ural, Siberian, and Far Eastern. The Ural Mountains divided the territory of Russia into two parts: European and Asian. Only 23 % of the country's territory is located in the European part. The westernmost territory is the Normeln border outpost in the Kaliningrad Region, and Cape Dezhneva is in the east. The top three cities are Moscow, St. Petersburg and Novosibirsk. According to official data, more than 12 million people live in the capital, the population here exceeds most megacities in the world. The coldest settlement is the village of Oymyakon in Yakutia, where the temperature was recorded at -71.2. The peculiarities of the formation of the state have determined the multinational and multi-religious composition of the population. The Russian Empire united not only Slavic peoples and representatives of the Orthodox denomination, but also Catholics, Protestants, Muslims, Jews and Buddhists, and a bouquet of ethnic minorities was formed.
Currently, about 200 nationalities live on the territory of Russia, including small-numbered peoples, whose number does not exceed 10,000 people. The concept of state national policy defines the need to solve the social problems of the peoples of the Far North and preserve their endangered languages and cultures. In Russia, there are special programs for the preservation of languages of small peoples, including subsidized national schools. Russians are the most numerous people (about 80% of the population), Tatars are considered the second largest ethnic group. Dagestan is the most multinational republic in modern Russia, with about 30 indigenous nationalities living here. Locals use more than 30 languages of the Nakh-Dagestan, Turkic and Indo-European language groups. However, article 68 of the Constitution defines ""The official language of the Russian Federation throughout its territory is Russian."
All the world's faiths are represented in our country.: Christianity, Islam, Buddhism. There are also national religions - Judaism. In some regions, the population adheres to archaic forms of religious teachings, such as shamanism. There are about 20 thousand deposits of natural resources
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in Russia. Our country has significant oil and gas reserves. The subsoil is rich in various iron ores, non-ferrous metals, coal, precious and semi-precious stones. Natural reserves include the forest, which covers almost half of the country's territory, and the Siberian cedar is considered a particularly valuable species. The modern economic complex of the country is represented by such important industries as the electric power industry, metallurgy, chemical industry and mechanical engineering. Agriculture has been developing dynamically in recent years, and Russia is one of the largest exporters of agricultural products not only in Europe, but also in the world. Sanctions and import substitution policies have had an effective impact on the development of the national economy. Russia is a hospitable country with an actively developing tourism industry. Since 1967, the Golden Ring of Russia route has been popular, bringing together the ancient cities of Northeastern Russia: Sergiev Posad, Pereslavl Zalessky, Rostov Veliky, Yaroslavl, Kostroma, Ivanovo, Suzdal, Vladimir. In 2018, the route was expanded to include Uglich.
The Russian Federation is currently experiencing a deep crisis in international relations. Over the past ten years, our country has been facing many civilizational challenges and threats. The difficult situation in Ukraine creates geopolitical tension. The expansion of NATO to the east is a strategic danger for Russia. Five years ago, the sanctions pressure from Western countries seemed like a global economic disaster. As a result, we can note the development of Russian industry.
The situation is heating up with "information wars" and large-scale discrediting of Russia in the global media. In the 21st century, diplomatic circles began to actively talk about the importance of "soft power" in strengthening diplomatic relations between countries.
"Soft power" is the ability of a state to influence other countries through culture in its various forms, education, and sports, avoiding military or economic pressure. It is important to note the importance of "people's diplomacy", which implies participation in the international dialogue of public organizations, business communities and ordinary citizens. American schoolgirl Samantha Smith can be considered a pioneer of "people's diplomacy". To get acquainted with the consequences of a letter from a fifteen-year-old American woman to the "Soviet Mr. President", we recommend watching the short film "The Truth of Samantha Smith" (Russia, 2015, directed by A. Sobolev). Russia is actively promoting the Russian language and literature abroad. The Russian World Foundation was created for this purpose.
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The natural diversity of Russia is an inexhaustible source of inspiration for travelers. From the snowy peaks of the Caucasus to the sandy dunes of the Caspian, from endless Siberian forests to the volcanic landscapes of Kamchatka – every corner of the country has its own unique charm. Baikal, the deepest lake of the planet, is not only a natural miracle, but also a repository of huge reserves of fresh water. Numerous national parks and reserves are designed to preserve unique ecosystems and rare species of plants and animals.
Russia is a country of great culture, which gave the world a galaxy of outstanding writers, poets, composers, artists and scientists. Russian literature, from Pushkin and Dostoevsky to Tolstoy and Chekhov, occupies a special place in the world treasure. Russian music, represented by the names of Tchaikovsky, Rachmaninov and Shostakovich, conquered the hearts of millions of listeners. The Russian ballet, famous for its grace and virtuosity, is one of the symbols of national culture.
Russia plays an important role in the world political arena, being a permanent member of the UN Security Council and an active participant in many international organizations. The country adheres to the principles of a multipolar world and advocates a peaceful settlement of conflicts. Russia makes a significant contribution to the fight against international terrorism and other global challenges.
The future of Russia is in its people, in its creative energy, in his desire for progress and prosperity. The country has tremendous potential for development in all areas of life. Modernization of the economy, the development of science and technology, improving the quality of life of citizens are priority tasks facing Russian society. Russia is confidently looking into the future, striving to strengthen its sovereignty and ensure a worthy place in the world community.
QUESTIONS FOR SELF-CONTROL
1.How many subjects are part of the Russian Federation?
2.Name the largest subject of the Russian Federation.
3.Which world religions are represented in Russia?
4.What is the name of the first president of Russia?
5.What are the cities of federal significance?
6.What is the name of the President of the USSR?
7.Which subject of the Russian Federation can have its own constitution?
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8.How the territory of the modern Russian Federation was formed?
9.What are the most important geographical characteristics of Russia?
10.What are the features of the national composition of Russian citizens?
11.Explain the phrase of the Russian scientist M. V. Lomonosov "Russian power will grow Siberia and the Far East".
12.What is it believed to be a hero?
13.Explain why it is important to maintain the memory of the country's military victories and its heroes?
CREATIVE TASKS FOR PRACTICAL EXERCISES
1) Complete the thesis with the name of the city or region.
1.__________ – there are 7 universities on the same street and every 8th resident of the city is a student: "the city of students"
2._________ – they don't drive with their samovar and gingerbread.
3._________ – there are mushrooms with eyes, their are eaten, and they
look.
4._________ – the snow here is exceptionally black.
5._________ – this city doesn't believe in tears, give it a case.
6._________ – the city of fishermen, sturgeon and black caviar.
7._________ – the All-Russian health resort.
8.________ – the birthplace of unique down shawls that "pass" through the wedding ring.
9._________ – Moscow's neighbor is a neighbor.
10.______ – "the cultural capital of Russia" and the city of white nights.
11.______ – the metallurgical "capital" of Russia.
12.______ – there are dark nights and resort entertainment in this city.
13.______ – this city is called "The Third Rome".
14.______ – Which city's bins are "full of mind."
15.______ – the city of brides.
16.______ – the capital of Siberia.
17.______ – in which Russian city even cows eat fish.
18.______ – the richest amber city in Russia.
19.______ – this city is famous for its butter.
2)Develop the script for the promotion of Russian culture abroad.
3)Prepare an interactive presentation of one of the constituent entities of the Russian Federation.
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S E C T I O N 2. RUSSIAN STATE AS CIVILIZATION
The civilizational approach to the study of the formation and development of the state involves the search for answers to a number of important questions: determining civilizational identity, value guidelines and spiritual and moral principles. What determines the civilizational type of one or another state? The spiritual system of values, customs and traditions formed in the process of development, lifestyle and ways of housekeeping, management system. The civilizational approach to the study of history began to form in the XIX century.
Currently, in the research literature there are many options for determining the concept of “civilization”. The determination of civilization given by S. Huntington is the most complete: “We can define civilization as a cultural community of the highest rank, as the widest level of cultural identity of people. The next step is already what distinguishes the human race from other types of living beings. Civilizations are determined by the presence of general objective order, such as language, history, religion, customs, institutions, as well as subjective self -identification of people. There are various levels of self -identification: for example, a resident of Rome can characterize himself as a Roman, Italian, Catholic, Christian, European, man of the Western world. Civilization is the widest level of community with which he correlates himself. Cultural self -identification of people can change, and as a result, the composition and boundaries of civilization are changing ”.
Each civilization has its own characteristics that were formed in the process of historical development, and it is important to take into account the specifics of any such features in the description of public life or analysis of social practices.
Russian people, Russian culture, Russian language – the foundations of Russian civilization. The Russian civilization is united by a common cultural
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