New and Old Russia in the Transition Discourses of Finnish - Russian Relationships

Abstract
This Finnish-Russian joint research project departs from the notion that understanding the interplay of continuity and change of institutional practices in a long-term perspective is essential in the contemporary political constellation in which Finland is part of the multilateral EU and simultaneously seeks to maintain good bilateral relationships with Russia.

New and Old Russia is a historical metaphor, which refers to the characteristic feature of interpretations of Russian history according to which change and continuity in this country are in such a radical relationship that the "new" is not only a break-up of the past but also brings up the "old" in another form. This heuristic question about cultural change provides a starting point for studying how, and why, events and transformations in one political unit become a constitutive part of the public interest articulated in another. The articulation of the public sphere of politics will be studied in the context of institutional policy discourses during historical periods of transition. This analysis is complemented with studies of the dilemmas of Finnish statecraft and habitual attitudes towards Russia in popular discourses. The project is internally organized around these three thematic areas and seven empirical sub-projects.

Methodologically, the ambition is to develop the pragmatist research orientation in the study of International Relations.

Project leader: Senior Research Fellow Helena Rytövuori-Apunen, University of Tampere, Tampere Peace Research Institute (TAPRI), Yliopistonkatu 58-60 A, FIN-33014 University of Tampere, tel. +358-(0)3-3551 7693, fax. +358-(0)3-223 6620,  helena.rytovuori-apunen(at)uta.fi

Researchers:
Osmo Apunen, Emeritus Professor, University of Tampere, osmo.apunen(at)uta.fi
Pami Aalto, Dr. Pol Sc, Aleksanteri Institute, Unversity of Helsinki, pami.aalto(at)helsinki.fi
Arto Nokkala, Dr. Soc Sc, University of Tampere, arto.nokkala(at)kolumbus.fi
Anni Kangas, MA, University of Tampere, anni.kangas(at)uta.fi
Olga Potemkina, Docent, Head of Section, Institute of Europe, Moscow
Stanislav L. Tkachenko, Associate Professor, Vice-Rector, St. Petersburg State University
Viatcheslav Morozov, Associate Professor, St. Petersburg State University

Research consultant:
Yury Deryabin, Centre Director, former Ambassador, Institute of Europe, Moscow
Kari Möttölä, Special Adviser, Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland
Eiki Berg, Associate Professor, Tartu Ülikool
Esa Kokkonen, Director, The Baltic Institute of Finland
Sergei Prozorov, Professor, Petrozavodsk State University

Project description