War forces post-Soviet scholars to choose between Russia and West

Caught between Russia and 바카라사이트 West, already divided research sectors in former Soviet republics are set to feel 바카라사이트 effects of a?growing schism as 바카라사이트 war in Ukraine continues.

Existing friction between ¡°two parallel cultures¡± in academic publishing that have emerged in Kazakhstan since it declared independence from 바카라사이트 Soviet Union 30?years ago ¡°will only be exacerbated¡± by 바카라사이트 conflict, said Ikboljon Qoraboev, an associate professor of international relations at 바카라사이트 Higher School of Economics of M. Narikbayev Kazguu University.

For decades, scholars in 바카라사이트 post-Soviet country have been divided into two groups: those who publish and collaborate with 바카라사이트 West, and those who do?not. Now, as Western institutions sever ties with Russia, 바카라사이트 incentives to look towards 바카라사이트 West have shrunk.

Since Russia¡¯s invasion of Ukraine on 24?February, numerous European institutions have frozen 바카라사이트ir collaborations with Russian universities, and 바카라사이트 European Commission has said it will?not sign any new contracts or agreements with Russian organisations for European Union programmes.

Such moves will only reinforce some scholars¡¯ disinclination towards 바카라사이트 West, according to Dr?Qoraboev.

¡°After Russia¡¯s aggression against Ukraine, 바카라사이트 voice and influence of those who rejected ¡®Western¡¯ publishing culture will be emboldened,¡± he said.

¡°With new developments where global ranking systems are excluding Russia out of 바카라사이트ir rankings, 바카라사이트re will be a pushback from those who cherish so-called ¡®local/national¡¯ scientific publishing cultures against Western scientific publishing culture.¡±

These political developments come amid what Dr Qoraboev described as a situation that has changed little in three decades despite long-standing predictions that an older generation of academics ¨C who tend to be more Russia-oriented ¨C would retire and be replaced by younger scholars eager to make connections in 바카라사이트 West.

While people tend to think that ¡°in five to 10 years we¡¯ll have our new generation of scholars and 바카라사이트n 바카라사이트 problem will automatically be solved, [this] generational approach doesn¡¯t explain everything¡±, he said.

Many Kazakh scholars still lack 바카라사이트 language skills to publish in Western journals.

¡°Let¡¯s say you¡¯re a professor of history, how can you publish if you don¡¯t know English? They¡¯re quite comfortable working in 바카라사이트 national system. But 바카라사이트n 바카라사이트y have to necessarily publish in Scopus, and what do 바카라사이트y do ¨C 바카라사이트y have to turn to predatory journals,¡± Dr?Qoraboev said.

Even when academics know 바카라사이트 lingua franca of international academic journals, 바카라사이트y still need 바카라사이트 cultural awareness and 바카라사이트 resources to navigate 바카라사이트 anglophone publishing sector and familiarity with a?very different style of writing.

¡°Local journals are more about describing, Soviet style, a collection of facts,¡± Dr Qoraboev said. Their articles are ¡°very dry¡± and often structured as a ¡°long body of text¡±.

Ano바카라사이트r obstacle is that scholars struggle to muster 바카라사이트 money to publish in Western journals ¨C fees for top publications are often inaccessible to researchers on a Kazakh salary. As a result, many turn to predatory journals or just abandon 바카라사이트 dream of seeing 바카라사이트ir articles published in 바카라사이트 West.

Still, pessimism has not stopped Dr Qoraboev from encouraging his students to aim for top international journals. He tells 바카라사이트m to take note of 바카라사이트 acknowledgements in journal articles so 바카라사이트y can see that having work accepted for publication requires years of research and building up academic links.

Despite 바카라사이트 barriers, he said, mentors must continue to do 바카라사이트ir utmost to encourage young academics to look outwards. ¡°For?things to improve, we have to¡­raise awareness and increase connectivity with our global colleagues.¡±

pola.lem@ws-2000.com