Russian-Polish School of Young Historians
An international school of young historians, ‘Russian – Polish Entangled History: Scientific Reconstruction and Reflection in the Collective Memory’, took place in April at the School of History (HSE Moscow). Undergraduate and master’s students from HSE and the University of Warsaw took place in the event. Alexander Kamenskii, Andrey Iserov, Dariusz Klechowski, Director of the Polish Cultural Centre in Moscow, and Leonid Gorizontov, who lead the organization of the Russian-Polish meeting.
Eighteen student research projects, mostly related to the 19th and 20th centuries, were presented during three working days. Two roundtable discussions were held, where participants exchanged their views on the study of the Russian-Polish joint history and historical education in the two countries. As part of the School of Young Historians, the book ‘Russian and Poland: Overcoming Historical Stereotypes. Late 18th – early 20th centuries’, edited by Leonid Gorizontov, was first presented. All activities at the School were held in English.
A cultural programme was organized for the 13 guests from Warsaw, which introduced them to Moscow’s museums and landmarks. HSE students conducted historical and cultural excursions. A reception at the Polish Cultural Centre was organized for the School participants. Students of the two universities had a lot of time for informal communication. And they are very keen that the meeting at the Moscow HSE campus would be the beginning of long-term cooperation with the University of Warsaw.
Some feedback from the students who participated in the International School of Young Historians:
Marta Tomczak, 1st year master’s student at the University of Warsaw
It was a great honor for us to take part in this Polish-Russian conference. We had the unique chance to talk with Russian students about the entangled history of our nations in a way that undoubtedly broadened our way of thinking about our mutual relations in the past. It would be a great pleasure for us to continue this project and meet with our friends from HSE in Warsaw.
Izabella Korchagina, Vladislav Yakovenko, 3rd-year undergraduate students at HSE
The Interuniversity School of Young Historians left us with some remarkable impressions. It was interesting to discuss our countries’ joint history during the presentations of papers and roundtable discussions. We had the opportunity to get to know something about contemporary Polish historical science and to exchange opinions with the students of the University of Warsaw. It was a nice surprise that many of them know Russian culture and language well, so we had almost no problems with communication. Despite the fact that the School’s working language was English, we talked in Russian with many of the Polish guests informally. In addition to that, we could act as guides when we showed them around Moscow. This was thrilling, since many of them came to Moscow for the first time and were interested in seeing its landmarks. The best thing is that we found new friends and we hope to continue our communication.
Aleksandra Jakubczak, 1st-year master’s student at the University of Warsaw
I believe that meetings like this, connecting young generation of historians from two different countries, which have such an intertwined history, are very important. It was very enlightening to see how Russian students of history study our common past and what interests them. The time spent together on several trips around the city contributed to a better understanding of each other. Actual contact between Russian and Polish young generations helped to break down many of the stereotypes that both of our groups had before the meeting.
Magda Pruchniak, 1st-year master’s student at the University of Warsaw
On 5th-9th April 2016 we had the great pleasure of participating in the International School of Young Historians. Discussions were fruitful, but for me building a real student community was even more important. The cultural program let us not only see Moscow from different points of view (one of the most exciting surprises was a visit in the Institute of Polish Culture!), but also we spent a lot of time together, singing Polish and Russian songs and talking about everything. We are really grateful for that opportunity and impatiently looking forward for our discussions in Warsaw and developing new friendships!
Margarita-Agnessa Dmitrieva, 1st-year undergraduate student at HSE
This was not the first experience of participating in an international conference for me, but this School’s format was new for me. Interesting research by Polish and Russian colleagues, a friendly atmosphere and a thrilling programme brought only the most positive emotions. I was happy to meet people interested in the complicated topic of the School, and particularly, in my paper. Great thanks to all participants and organizers for the opportunity to learn more about the development of Russian-Polish relations, to meet international colleagues, and to outline a new direction for my research!
See also:
‘We Cannot Understand the Modern Ideological Confrontation without the Accusations that Emerged during the Lausanne Process’
Rainer Matos Franco, from Mexico, defended his PhD thesis with honours at HSE University this June. In his dissertation, Rainer Matos Franco examines the history of anticommunism in Europe during the 1920s. The HSE News Service spoke with Rainer and his academic supervisor, Tatiana Borisova, about the significance of the Lausanne Process for the Cold War and contemporary history, the opportunities provided by HSE University for international PhD candidates, and the challenges of working with a vast database of historical sources.
How the Telephone Conquered the World. Episode Ten: 'Number, Please?'
The history of the invention of telephony reads like a captivating detective novel, but even more intriguing are the events that contributed to the worldwide adoption of this technology. In this series of columns on IQ.HSE, Anton Basov, HSE Faculty of Computer Science editor, discusses how telephones have become an integral part of our everyday life. The final episode of the series recounts how men were unable to cope with telephone operator jobs and were replaced by tall and polite young women. However, as telephone networks expanded, the role of the intermediary became unproductive, eventually rendering the switchboard operator profession obsolete due to automation—not the first nor the last time such a thing has happened. As for Alexander Graham Bell, he used the earnings from inventing the telephone to promote science, educate people about the world around us, and pursue new inventions.
How the Telephone Conquered the World. Episode Nine: Big Connections
The history of the invention of telephony reads like a captivating detective novel, but even more intriguing are the events that contributed to the worldwide adoption of this technology. In this series of columns on IQ.HSE, Anton Basov, HSE Faculty of Computer Science editor, discusses how telephones have become an integral part of our everyday life. The ninth episode of the series explores the development of the first long-distance, interstate, and transatlantic telephone lines, which suddenly made people thousands of kilometres away feel as close as if they were in the same room together.
How the Telephone Conquered the World. Episode Eight: The Russian Field of Experiments
The history of the invention of telephony reads like a captivating detective novel, but even more intriguing are the events that contributed to the worldwide adoption of this technology. In this series of columns on IQ.HSE, Anton Basov, HSE Faculty of Computer Science editor, discusses how telephones have become an integral part of our everyday life. The eighth episode of the series recounts how Russia first adapted the telephone for military and logistical purposes, created a shell company headed by a nominal executive for reselling the rights to Western competitors, and intensively developed communication infrastructure in the country's two capitals, making such progress that Vladimir Lenin insisted on capturing and maintaining control of telephone exchanges at all costs.
How the Telephone Conquered the World. Episode Seven: German Efficiency
The history of the invention of telephony reads like a captivating detective novel, but even more intriguing are the events that contributed to the worldwide adoption of this technology. In this series of columns on IQ.HSE, Anton Basov, HSE Faculty of Computer Science editor, discusses how telephones have become an integral part of our everyday life. The seventh episode in the series recounts the story of German bureaucrats, who proved to be the most astute in Europe by ensuring effective telephony first for themselves and subsequently for all major cities in Germany. However, even there, the government's dominant role over the free market slowed down the adoption of the new technology.
How the Telephone Conquered the World. Episode Six: The Telephone's Misadventures in France
The history of the invention of telephony reads like a captivating detective novel, but even more intriguing are the events that contributed to the worldwide adoption of this technology. In this series of columns on IQ.HSE, Anton Basov, HSE Faculty of Computer Science editor, discusses how telephones have become an integral part of our everyday life. The sixth episode of the series recounts events in France when the private owner of the telephone network was compelled to sell it to the government at a knockdown price, and the impact it had on the development of communications in the country. Spoiler alert: the impact, naturally, was detrimental.
How the Telephone Conquered the World. Episode Five: From the US Free Market to Conservative Britain
In this series of columns on IQ.HSE, Anton Basov, HSE Faculty of Computer Science editor, discusses how telephones have become an integral part of our everyday life. The fifth episode of the series chronicles the early experiences of the telegraph and telephone in Great Britain, shedding light on the challenges they faced, and explores the adverse impact of excessive government regulation and nationalisation on the evolution of telecommunications.
Peacocks, Pepper, and Petrol: The Early History of Imports from Asia
Petroleum for equine care, wood oil for lighting, sandalwood for Easter celebrations, and lemons and olives for entertaining unexpected guests. Russian monasteries often used these and other eastern goods in the period leading up to and during the reign of Peter the Great. Analysing their account books leads to a revision of the traditional assumptions about the primary consumers of oriental goods in Russia. These consumers, in addition to the royal and aristocratic circles, included monastery estates, as discussed in the paper ‘“Three altyns worth of petroleum…”: Oriental goods in Russia at the second half of the 17th and early 18th century’ by historian Arthur Mustafin of HSE University. Based on his paper, IQ.HSE explores the types of goods that were shipped from the East to Russia in the latter half of the 17th to the early 18th century, including the routes and purposes of these shipments.
How the Telephone Conquered the World. Episode Four: David the Start-up Versus the Corporate Goliath
The history of the invention of telephony reads like a captivating detective novel, but even more intriguing are the events that contributed to the worldwide adoption of this technology. In this series of columns on IQ.HSE, Anton Basov, HSE Faculty of Computer Science editor, discusses how telephones have become an integral part of our everyday life. The fourth episode of the series recounts the story of the fledgling start-up's confrontation with hordes of patent trolls and its subsequent victory in a full-blown corporate war against the largest telecommunications company of the late 19th century.
‘In Search of the Key to the Past’: Students of HSE Art and Design School in Nizhny Novgorod Develop Collection of Souvenirs
The HSE Art and Design School in Nizhny Novgorod, together with the ‘Protected Quarters’ project to revive Nizhny Novgorod’s historical territories, have carried out the ‘Timeless’ creative project, which included a design laboratory and an educational programme. As a result of the creative workshop, students made concepts for souvenir products based on the local identity.