Abstract: Review of Revolution! Swedish experiences from RussiaBirgitte Beck Pristed reviews Revolution! Swedish experiences from Russia, edited by Alexander Husebye, with contributions by Bengt JAngfeldt, Ulrika Knutson, Martin Kragh, Benito Peix Geldart, Gunnar Åselius. The volume is issued by the Swedish Center for Business History on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the Russian Revolution and examines the postrevolutionary fate of Swedish entrepreneurs and their extensive business activities in Russia.
Susanna Rabow-Edling, from the Institute for Russian and Eurasian Studies, Uppsala University, reviews Glenn Diesen's book, Russian Conservatism: Managing Change under Permanent Revolution (Rowman & Littlefield, 2021).
Erik Kulavig reviews The Russian Revolutions of 1917: The Northern Impact and Beyond edited by Kari Aga Myklebost, Jens Petter Nielsen and Andrei Rogatchevski.
Denne boka handler om en dansk kvinne som skjebnen bringer til Russland i 1911 og som senere skriver en interessant øyenvitenberetning om Den russiske revolusjon, der danske, sønderjyske soldater i russisk krigsfangenskap spiller en sentral rolle.
The subject of this book is a Danish woman whom fate brought to Russia in 1911. She later wrote an eyewitness account of the Russian Revolution where captured Danish soldiers from South Jutland play an important part.
Abstract: A Chinese Railway to the Arctic? The Story of Belkomur – so FarThe further development of the Northern Sea Route, including the associated logistical chains and infrastructure, enjoys high priority in Russia, and inadequate south–north transportation capacity is recognized as a problem. China has shown increasing interest in Arctic shipping over the past ten years. The construction of a railway from the Urals, with connections to China, to a deep-water port with access to the Arctic Ocean appeared attractive, both as a strategic opportunity for China and as a natural area for Chinese engagement in Russia, given announcements of the close partnership and common interests between the two countries. Since 2012 various Chinese companies have shown interest in investing, and the conclusion of a concession agreement has been announced several times. The Russian federal authorities have voiced support, without committing budget funding. Increasingly, however, critical remarks have been heard from the federal government, although regional support remains strong. As of mid-2021 no firm agreement had been signed, and the project was put on hold. Reviewing the history of the project since Chinese companies were first engaged, this article offers insights on Russian regional authorities' scope for manoeuvre and the relationship between central and regional power. It also reveals Russian misinterpretations of Chinese interest in the project.
Abstract: Security and Vulnerability After Armenia's Velvet Revolution: Elite Perceptions on Gender Equality, Human Rights and Conflict ResolutionThe Velvet Revolution in spring 2018 and the snap elections that followed in December 2018 shook Armenia. This article examines the country's new political elite and other central social elites, and their affective and evaluative beliefs with respect to human security, drawing on an elite survey conducted in 2017 and 2019, complemented by in-depth interviews. The aim is to shed light on whether Armenia's elite-level political culture is headed for progressive change concerning the rights of disadvantaged groups, primarily women and sexual minorities – an expectation among the young and educated in Yerevan. This study finds that, as regards reducing vulnerability and increasing the security and freedom of choice for those traditionally disadvantaged in Armenian society, the values and judgments of the new elites have remained basically traditional.
Armenia's Velvet Revolution - Why So Overdue? In early April 2018 Armenia completed the transition from semi-presidential rule to a parliamentary republic. Under the slogan 'More power to the people', the ruling Republican Party had paved the way for the incumbent president, Serzh Sargsyan, to continue in power, now as prime minister as his second and final term of presidency was drawing to an end. However, the ensuing events ended with popular protests, the 'Velvet Revolution', which forced Sargsyan and the Republicans out of office. The new administration, led by the former opposition leader Nikol Pashinyan, has ousted several influential leaders and initiated an ambitious anti-corruption programme. Nonetheless, one significant issue remains: early elections that are supposed not only to reflect the prevailing political landscape in Armenia but also reform the country's election laws. What triggered the spring 2018 uprising, when corruption and social discontent have been both well-known and prevalent in Armenia over the past two decades? This article offers insights into the background to the popular uprising, and the relation between Armenia and its large and influential diaspora, citing two main factors for the delay since independence in 1991 – the historical legacy of the perils of internal disunity, together with the effects of the unresolved Karabakh conflict. It concludes with some reflections on the way forward.
Ingmar Oldberg reviews In the North, the East and West Meet. Festschrift for Jens Petter Nielsen, edited by Kari Aga Myklebost and Stian Bones. This book contains 26 articles in Norwegian, English and Russian, starting with a good presentation of Professor Nielsen's life and career. In keeping with his interests, the well annotated articles cover several themes; the centenary of the Russian revolution, Norwegian-Russian relations since the Middle Ages, especially in the High North, Russian arts, and scientific cooperation. The book is beautifully illustrated.
En lättläst minibiografi över Rosa Luxemburg till hundraårsminnet, behövs den? Gärna. Att kunskapsrikt och pedagogiskt förmedla den aviga revolutionsmarxistens idéer och öde i en tid av alternativens slut kan knappast vara en överloppsgärning. I postsocialismens tidevarv när klimatkris och överlevnadsfrågor ropar efter gemensamma lösningar behöver otrampade stigar belysas och igenbommade utvägar gläntas, även den »sosialisme nedenfra» som Ellen Engelstad och Mímir Kristjánsson välformulerat förknippar med Rosa Luxemburg. Den polskjudiska upprorskvinnan utgjorde både under sin stormiga och alltför korta livstid kring förra sekelskiftet och genom sitt oppositionella eftermäle, en röd nagel i ögat både på den socialdemokrati som i praktiken lät döda henne och kommunistdespoterna i öst. En ung, lärd kvinna som bestormade de socialdemokratiska patriarkerna, litade till »massornas» demokratiska självaktivitet, predikade internationalistisk fred och hoppades på revolutionen mot kapitalets herravälde och militarismens bödlar. Och som betalade priset genom nedbrytande fängelseår, och med sitt liv när allt stod och vägde.
