2024 Issue №1

Many countries view education exports as a vital sector of the economy. Russia has also acknowledged the importance of exporting education, consistently implementing measures to promote Russian education in the international market. Despite the recent surge in interest in Russian education amongst international students, there is a risk that this trend could change dramatically due to the global crisis and the current geopolitical situation. This contribution considers BRICS countries — Brazil, India, China and South Africa — as key markets for Russian education exports.

This study aims to analyse the capacity of BRICS countries to import Russian educa­tional services. Statistical data is utilised to conduct a time-series analysis of demographic factors, population structure and economic growth in BRICS countries. Russian education exports to BRICS countries are quantified using measures such as the enrolment of BRICS nationals at IKBFU and employing the trend extrapolation method. The findings suggest that these countries possess significant human and economic resources, offering excellent oppor­tunities for the export of Russian education.

This article considers the socio-cultural and social activities of rural libraries from the perspective of social geography and geography of culture. Globalisation, erosion of local cul­tural values and blurred spatial boundaries between socio-cultural communities render re­search endeavours in the fields of social geography and cultural geography invaluable tools in selecting promising areas for regional policies.

This study aims to track how the performance of municipal libraries of the Kaliningrad region changed between 2016 and 2022 and analyse the interim results of the Culture flag­ship national project — and effort to aid library modernisation. Albeit often deficient in re­sources, rural libraries serve as local centres for socio-cultural activity. Thus, they face the urgent need to adapt to the rapidly changing environment. Having failed, these establish­ments would be unable to unlock local residents’ potential, meet their informational needs, aid them on the path of intellectual and spiritual development or facilitate the socialisation of younger and senior generations. It is concluded that there is a range of regional obstacles to aspirations to embrace the innovative model of a modern rural library.

Problems of energy security remain relevant for Russian regions in the current condi­tions. On the one hand, there is a pressing need to protect the economy and the population from energy-related threats at a regional and national level. On the other hand, the tense post-2022 international situation poses new industrial development challenges for regions, prompting some to reorganise domestic and export energy supply. Energy security issues encountered by Russian regions exhibit spatial variation depending on economic specialisa­tion and geographical location. This article examines several definitions of energy security employed in Russian and international practice. The conceptual and terminological features of the category ‘energy security’ are explored, with an emphasis on Russian regions. A socio-geographical approach is adopted to this end. Spatial features of energy security are identified based on a typology of relevant factors — conceptual objectives and avenues to act on. The case of the Kaliningrad region, an exclave highly dependent on external energy supplies, is examined to provide insight into possible scenarios for ensuring the territory’s energy securi­ty and the conditions for each course of events to unfold. The findings of the study suggest potential pathways for enhancing the exclave’s energy security, each requiring momentous decisions and careful attention to detail.

This article utilises a systematic approach for a comprehensive examination of the Baltic Sea region as a geopolitical space and an analysis of geopolitical events (event-analysis) aimed to assess the capabilities of the US and NATO to impose a naval blockade on Russia in the Baltic Sea. This study is made relevant by the growing confrontation between the collective West and Russia, and the provocative anti-Russian rhetoric adopted by official representa­tives of NATO states. Finland’s accession to NATO, Sweden’s ‘de facto’ participation in the Alliance and Russia’s geostrategic position in the Baltic region have created a situation where the sea may turn into a literal trap for the latter country. There is a threat of a maritime and trade blockade of Russia amid US and EU sanctions policy against Russian oil and calls by some Western leaders for limiting Russia’s access to the Baltic Sea to protect their countries’ maritime communications from ‘Russian aggression’. The findings of this study and an anal­ysis of the geopolitical and military-strategic situation in the Baltic Sea region suggest that this threat may become a reality. Its significance is also evidenced by steps taken by US and NATO towards escalation in relations with Russia, attempts to damage the country’s econo­my and the anti-Russian hysteria of the Baltic States.