Destined to Fail: The Politicization of Liberal Arts and Sciences in Russian Academic Discourse

• In Event: Examining Diverse Perspectives in Policy

Abstract

Education in modern Russia has become an ideological battleground between liberal and conservative discourses. Liberal arts and sciences programs, first introduced in Russia over 20 years ago through a partnership between Bard College and St. Petersburg State University, have faced severe repression. By 2022, all LAS programs in Russia had been dismantled. Despite their niche status within the field of higher education, the academic discourse was politicizing this model, emphasizing the liberal and Western nature and values of LAS education. The struggle over LAS in Russia highlights its political significance and the challenges of adopting such models in authoritarian regimes. Further comparative research is necessary to understand this phenomenon.

Author

• Max Yakubovskiy, University of Wisconsin - Madison