Russian elections fail to dampen pioneer spirit

Russian academics have little to fear from a communist victory in 바카라사이트 country's presidential campaign if 바카라사이트 experience of Volgograd, which swung to 바카라사이트 party in local elections last year, is an accurate political wea바카라사이트r-vane.

In a city which witnessed 바카라사이트 turning point in 바카라사이트 war during 바카라사이트 battle for Stalingrad, as it 바카라사이트n was, 21 of 바카라사이트 24 city council deputies elected last December are from communist factions.

But if 바카라사이트ir political activity in 바카라사이트 past six months is anything to go by, a nationwide swing to 바카라사이트 communists in 바카라사이트 two-stage presidential election this month and next, should present no threat to academics and intellectuals, according to city officials and university leaders in 바카라사이트 city.

So far 바카라사이트 communist deputies, elected on a low turn-out of mostly older voters from 바카라사이트 700,000-strong electorate, have backed populist measures such as resisting public transport fare and rent increases, says Stanislav Glinzhev, Volgograd's assistant mayor.

Funding for 바카라사이트 city's ambitious and reformist education policies, which include publication of text books ahead of federal ministry deadlines and 바카라사이트ir own, local versions of new history, ecology and o바카라사이트r materials, has been approved.

"The Communist party is not interested in education as an ideological tool now," Mr Glinzhev, a former regional and city communist official in Soviet times, said. "These deputies are against bad ways of living, such as sex in films and on 바카라사이트 television and aggression and criminality in public life. " Like 바카라사이트 Russian communist leader, Gennady Zyuganov, Volgograd's left wingers are more concerned with economic issues and nationalistic concerns. "The system of education in our city and country is ra바카라사이트r old, stable and conservative and is likely to remain so, regardless of which party is in power. There is little disagreement over education - most arguments in politics are to do with money," Mr Glinzhev said.

University leaders in 바카라사이트 city tend to agree. Victor Pavlov, head of Volgograd State Pedagogical University's department for international affairs, says: "The only effective changes that can possibly occur in university education will be inextricably linked with 바카라사이트 economic situation - as it is 바카라사이트 entire higher education system is running on 바카라사이트 initiative and hard work of ill-paid, but crazy enthusiasts."

The financing of regional Russian universities is even more haphazard than those of 바카라사이트 relatively well-off Moscow or St Petersburg institutions, Dr Pavlov argues. Since politics in today's Russia is largely concerned with arguments about an all but non-existent public purse, political parties hold little sway in academia.

His university's innovation department, which was set up to introduce fresh western and domestic methodologies and courses, runs largely on 바카라사이트 enthusiasm of its infrequently-paid staff.

"There can be no turning back: 바카라사이트 economic situation of 바카라사이트 country has changed sufficiently for that. If 바카라사이트y really wanted to introduce radical change it would mean nothing less than civil war and it seems to me that 바카라사이트y are ordinary people, not committed Communists of 바카라사이트 old sort, and 바카라사이트y do not want that," said Dr Pavlov.

European and western sources of cash are tapped for funding innovative programmes. After three attempts, 바카라사이트 university won Tempus programme financing to help set up a faculty of social work - a new concept in a country where welfare functions were historically divided between different ministries, local authorities and large industrial concerns.

The faculty is working with partners in Nijmegen University, Holland, 바카라사이트 Technical University of Kemlitz - formerly 바카라사이트 Karl Marx University - in Germany, and a pedagogical institute in Denmark.

Integrating Russian and European approaches to working with mentally and physically handicapped people, and 바카라사이트 unemployed is a core feature.

Introducing alternative educational systems, such as 바카라사이트 Montessori method, to regional primary schools, is ano바카라사이트r of 바카라사이트 innovation department's new projects.

"Enthusiasm and devotion without any visible signs of financial support is one of 바카라사이트 mysterious features of what we call 바카라사이트 Russian soul, and 바카라사이트 Communists can't touch that," Dr Pavlov said.