St Petersburg University hosts the 2nd International St Petersburg Historical Forum

The forum was opened by Professor Nikolay Kropachev, Rector of St Petersburg University, Corresponding Member of the Russian Academy of Sciences. In his welcoming speech, Professor Kropachev noted that this had not been the first time that St Petersburg University became a meeting place for historians from different countries, including those that were previously part of the Soviet Union.

In the difficult situation in which we all find ourselves today, nationwide and worldwide, it is vital that we look not only to the future, but also clearly see the problems of the past, analyse them and speak honestly about them, both as scholars and citizens. Since you are studying history, you understand this better than many others.

Professor Nikolay Kropachev, Rector of St Petersburg University

‘I am glad that the interest in what united the post-Soviet countries just over 20 years ago is on the rise now. This is not just an interest in culture and history, but also in real-life interactions, including joint scientific and scholarly research. I am certain that today’s forum is an important step not only in the efforts to transmit knowledge and develop science, but also to help our countries and the world as a whole to move forward in the right direction,’ Professor Kropachev emphasised.

The 1st International St Petersburg Historical Forum, held in 2019, focused on the role of the individual in history. For this year’s forum, the organisers came up with a theme that sparked interest from historians in a broader sense, bringing together multiple views and allowing for a broader perspective on the historical past of neighbouring countries and the history of humanity.

Over 700 applications for participation in the 2nd International St Petersburg Historical Forum were submitted. Together with the audience, the attendance at the event exceeded 1,000 people. In 2019, the forum was attended by about 600 historians.

Professor Abdulla Daudov is the Chairman of the Programme Committee and Director of the Institute of History at St Petersburg University. He noted that the forum attendance gives evidence of its relevance. There is clearly a growing interest in the forum, in St Petersburg and St Petersburg University, as well as in developing cooperation between professional historians in general. ‘We will take a broad look at the post-Soviet space — geographically and chronologically. These are the territories of the former Russian Empire, the USSR and their neighbours in the period from the Middle Ages to the end of the 20th century. There is a pressing need to compare local histories and the histories and cultures of different nations,’ Professor Daudov explained. ‘Only through a comparative analysis of the historical fate of countries and peoples will we be able to better understand the processes that took place in the past and are currently taking place in the post-Soviet space.’

According to Academician Valery Tishkov, Scientific Director of the Miklukho-Maklai Institute of Ethnology and Anthropology of the Russian Academy of Sciences, the St Petersburg Historical Forum has assumed the responsibility for bringing together historians from across the country.

Many neophytes have come to historical science over the past decade. Many different interpretations of historical events have been proposed both abroad and in our country, including outright revisions and falsifications of the historical records. I believe that upholding the historical truth, adhering to the highest ethical and professional standards, is our primary objective.

Academician Valery Tishkov, Scientific Director of the Miklukho-Maklai Institute of Ethnology and Anthropology of the Russian Academy of Sciences

Academician Tishkov added that academic institutions are to be engaged in implementing major education development projects. Thus, the Russian Academy of Sciences is currently working on the fundamental twenty-volume publication "History of Russia". The publication will cover all periods of Russian history from ancient times to the present day. Earlier, the historians had released a publication dedicated to world history. At the opening ceremony of the forum, Valery Tishkov donated to St Petersburg University his five-volume work, published by the Nauka Publishing House.

Professor Lev Belousov is Acting Dean of the Faculty of History at Lomonosov Moscow State University and Member of the Russian Academy of Education. He spoke about the role of historians in our times. At this critical juncture in human history, historical science has ceased to be just one of the fields of study and has become a crucial part of the life of modern society. In May 2022, the Ministry of Higher Education and Science of the Russian Federation for the first time established an expert council for a scientific discipline — the Council for the Development of History Education. At its first meeting, the Council drafted a proposal to increase the volume of history teaching in Russian universities for non-majors. On 7 October 2022, the Ministry of Justice registered a 144-hour course "History of Russia" for all university students. Currently, the experts are discussing a textbook for the new course. The historians are to answer a number of questions: should they focus exclusively on the history of Russia or should they teach Russian history in the context of world history; should they present events in chronological order or should they try to identify cross-cutting issues and trends; and should they erase Eurocentrism that is now dominant in history courses and expand the understanding of civilisations of the East? According to Professor Belousov, these issues concern teaching history in both secondary and higher education.

In this regard, there is another serious issue. It is necessary to make sure that the new textbook will not repeat the mistakes of the ‘History of the the Communist Party of the Soviet Union (Bolsheviks)’. That publication was mandatory for all, with precise wording, approved by departments of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union.

Professor Lev Belousov, Member of the Russian Academy of Education, Acting Dean of the Faculty of History at Lomonosov Moscow State University

‘The easiest way would be to give a student a textbook and say: «Memorise it!» But history is a field of study that should enhance critical thinking, even though our publication is aimed at a broad audience of non-history department students. We want our younger generation to be creative and learn to think independently, otherwise they will not be able to become the "locomotive" that should lead our society forward,’ Professor Belousov cautioned. For this end, he explained, complex issues should not be hushed up or denied, but openly talked about, based on reliable facts and the principle of historicism.

Professor Mikhail Piotrovsky, Full Member of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Director of the State Hermitage Museum, and Dean of the Faculty of Asian and African Studies at St Petersburg University, highlighted several issues faced by historians, including today’s buzzword — "cancel culture".

‘In fact, cancel culture is a complex historical phenomenon manifested itself at different stages of human history. I suggest that we should thoroughly study the specific mechanisms that activate it as a means of competitive struggle, reaching the highest academic and cultural spheres. It is extremely relevant for us in Russia, because we are great masters of the "cancel culture". I am talking about Christianity that cancelled pagan art and about the cancellation of Russian Imperial culture, Soviet culture and post-Soviet culture,’ Mikhail Piotrovski emphasised. ‘Furthermore, there is a major trend associated with this issue, which is of paramount importance for archives and museums — a call for museum abolition. Today, the assertion "museums are the keepers of looted treasures" is being brought up for discussion in different circles and at different levels. This issue is being discussed in postcolonial and neo-colonial studies, in the former countries of the Russian Empire, the Soviet Union and colonial empires, in churches and museums. In summary, a great many complicated phenomena, in my opinion, deserve serious thought and research.’

The forum was also addressed by Aleksei Sirenov, Director of the St Petersburg Institute of History of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Corresponding Member of the Russian Academy of Sciences.

The plenary sessions featured presentations and discussions on such topics as: cognitive approaches to understanding Russia; the history of writing in European civilisation; different aspects of the study of historical and cultural heritage; the connection between the history of regions of Russia and the history of the Russian state as a whole; the relationship between local history and macrohistory; as well as other questions that reveal the multiple facets of historical science.