Fundamental research on the status and prospects of the Russian political science

Abstract

The article presents an analytical review of the series of five books "Russian Political Science: Origins and Prospects", published under the general editorship of O.V. Gaman-Golutvina in 2015 in connection with the anniversary of RPSA (Russian Political Science Association). The authors conclude that the achievements of contemporary Russian political science are based on the ideas and traditions developed by Russian social scientists in XIX-XX centuries. At the same time the political thought in the country is not developing in isolation, but within the main trends of international political science and in close cooperation with IPSA (International Political Science Association). Having joined the debate on some of the most important aspects of political life Soviet and Russian scholars have made their contribution to broadening the interpretations of such notions as "political culture", "public politics", "state governance", "network interactions", which makes development of sub-disciplines within political science and synthesizing, inter-disciplinary studies increasingly relevant. The five-volume study also raises issues that will have to be resolved by the political science community in the nearest future. A special attention is given to the analysis of regional aspects of the research and the creation of regional academic schools that have demonstrated their potential and analytical capacities when researching the political landscape of Russia. Today the regional schools that have their own local distinctive features and different resource base ensure the diversity of views and approaches to the analysis of the political reality. The Russian political scientists, who are striving to develop themselves in connection with foreign academic centers and using their findings, are rooted in the achievements and traditions of the national political thought and see the future of the discipline as a fully-fledged academic school in the world political science.