Prints from Oriental Culture and Islamic Influence within the Albanian Traditional Wedding

GJURMË TË KULTURËS ORIENTALE NË DASMËN TRADICIONALE SHQIPTARE

Author(s): Albana Velianj / Language(s): Albanian / Issue: 01+02/2006

Keywords: Oriental Culture ; Islamic Influence ; Albanian Traditional Wedding

Dasma tradicionale shqiptare vështruar në ritet dhe këngët ceremoniale përkatëse tërheq vëmendjen si një kremtim specifik në të cilin marrëdhëniet midis përbërësve ritualë, poetikë, melodikë, koreografikë, dekorativë etj. përcaktojnë njësinë etnokulturore dhe ndikimet e interferencat e kulturave të tjera. Martesa bën pjesë në ciklin e madh të jetës dhe ceremoniali i lidhur me të dallon për karakterin e tij sinkretik dhe ndërthuren vizionet e njeriut rreth jetës e botës, përjetimet e unit dhe të bashkësisë, vetëdija reale subjektive me atë kolektive në raport me vetëdijen artistike, besimet dhe ritet me përjetimet artistike. Është për t’u theksuar fakti i ekzistencës dhe i ruajtjes së posaçme të dokeve shqiptare të dasmës dhe krijimeve të tyre folkloirike edhe pse në gjendjen e mbërritur, ndikimet e jashtme të kulturave të tjera kanë lënë gjurmë në këtë sistem ceremonial, por pa zbehur kurrsesi tiparet specifike kombëtare.

The Etymology Of Zuku/ Zulku Bajraktar Names And The Wolf Cult

ETIMOLOGJIA E EMRIT TË ZUKUT / ZULKUT BAJRAKTAR DHE KULTI I UJKUT

Author(s): Ndoc Papleka / Language(s): Albanian / Issue: 01+02/2006

Keywords: Etymology Of Zuku; Zulku Bajraktar ; Wolf Cult

Ndër studiuesit e parë të epikës sonë legjendare, të cilët janë përqëndruar tek antroponimet dhe toponimet e saj, është edhe folkloristi i njohur Demush Shala. Në librin e tij “Rreth këngëve kreshnike shqiptare”, këtij objekti i ka kushtuar një kapitull të veçantë që titullohet “Antroponimia dhe toponimia”5. Ai është i mendimit se emrat e personazheve e të vendeve që përmenden në këngët tona kreshnike kanë interes shkencor në disa pikëpamje: “Kështu, pos të tjerash, në to hetojmë edhe një onomastikë të pasur dhe të farëfarshme, si reflektim rrugësh të zhvillimit historik e shoqëror"6. Ky autor vë në dukje kontrastin midis fondit të lashtë, që është i pranishëm në epikën tonë legjendare dhe toponimeve e antroponimeve relativisht të reja që hasen në to. Me të drejtë, këtë dukuri kulturore, e shpjegon si pasojë të ndikimit të fuqishëm të kulturave të perandorive që e kanë shtrirë sundimin e tyre në trojet e banuara nga të parët tanë. Kjo dukuri nuk ndeshet vetëm te shqiptarët, por edhe te popuj të tjerë të Ballkanit, siç e ka vënë re V.S.Karaxhiq për serbët.

THE CYBER DIMENSION OF MODERN HYBRID WARFARE AND ITS RELEVANCE FOR NATO

THE CYBER DIMENSION OF MODERN HYBRID WARFARE AND ITS RELEVANCE FOR NATO

Author(s): Sorin Dumitru Ducaru / Language(s): English / Issue: 1/2016

Keywords: Cyber defence; information warfare; hybrid warfare; early warning; resilience; risk management

The technological development and the instant communication possibilities advanced not only economic and social developments, but also evolving threats from those who exploit the vulnerabilities of communication and information systems. The cyber threat landscape points to a significant increase of the frequency, intensity, duration and sophistication of cyber-attacks. One of the new and concerning trends is the use of cyber capabilities in relation with military of hybrid operations – the so-called cyber dimension of hybrid warfare. NATO’s strategy on countering hybrid warfare is based on the triad: prepare-deter-defend, which also applies to cyber. Nations represent the first line of defence in countering hybrid strategies. International cooperation is also a key factor in this sense. It is in this context that NATO’s response to cyber-attacks in the context of hybrid warfare must be further refined.

DEFIANT POLITICAL PATHS IN WARSAW: ANOTHER BREACH IN EUROPE AND A NEW MILESTONE FOR THE EURO-ATLANTIC SECURITY ARCHITECTURE

DEFIANT POLITICAL PATHS IN WARSAW: ANOTHER BREACH IN EUROPE AND A NEW MILESTONE FOR THE EURO-ATLANTIC SECURITY ARCHITECTURE

Author(s): Robert Lupitu / Language(s): English / Issue: 1/2016

Keywords: Euro-Atlantic security; Euro-scepticism; European Union; NATO; Poland; rule of law

The paper aims to review the new political landscape in Poland, a country that has the potential to be a major game changer within the European Union and the North Atlantic Alliance. When the role model of Eastern European countries and former communists satellites becomes a political surface for a tyranny of the majority, a polarized approach used by Law and Justice Party in order to secure and boost its power, another uncertainty falls in Europe. In its sections, the paper focuses on the political environment that has led to Law and Justice Party’s political win, the vital and undesired threat that quick and rough political measures pose to the rule of law system and the ruling party political view that aims to secure and boost its power in the perils from its proximity, by adopting a double standard policy, one distant from EU’s values and another close to NATO’s core interests. Additionally, the paper examines thoughtfully the double standard issue of Warsaw’s new cabinet in a European Union that hardly copes with different sorts of crisis and an unforeseen security landscape that with a NATO troops deployment in Eastern Europe will establish, if not a new Cold War mind set, at least a frosty view from both Russia and the West. By playing a negative game changer role and choosing to consider a prevalence of self-interests among its European and Euro-Atlantic participation, Poland finds itself in a race that may disrupt democracy for security causes, although they are not mutually excluded.

POLITICAL ANGLES IN THE ROMANIAN ONLINE MEDIA ABOUT THE REFUGEES' CRISIS AND ISLAM. TRAIAN BĂSESCU CASE

POLITICAL ANGLES IN THE ROMANIAN ONLINE MEDIA ABOUT THE REFUGEES' CRISIS AND ISLAM. TRAIAN BĂSESCU CASE

Author(s): Antonio Momoc / Language(s): English / Issue: 1/2016

Keywords: Online poisonings; Political communication; Refugees’ crisis

The public perception in Romania regarding the Syrian refugees has dramatically changed within a few months in the sense of rejecting the idea of receiving immigrants on Romanian territory. In August 2015 the polls indicated that Romanians were in favour of accepting the immigrants, while in September 2015 more than half of the respondents declared they were against receiving refugees. What kind of narrative was used by the Romanian politicians to cover the “refugee/migrant crisis”? This study tried to establish the ways in which social media have been changing Romanian perception related to refugees, asylum seekers and migrants. In this research, we have monitored discourses of xenophobia and poisonings that occurred in the Romanian social media. A few Romanian politicians have aggravated the immigrant related debate via their personal social media accounts. The former Romanian President, Traian Băsescu, was one of them. As the EU public debates on whether the refugees’ quotas should be mandatory or volunteer have scaled up, the people's perception was altered immediately after the discourse about rejecting the refugees has intensified in the online environment.

THE SOLIDARITY CLAUSE IN THE EUROPEAN UNION TREATY AS A HUMAN SECURITY VECTOR. A FAREWELL TO TERRORISM OR LEGITIMIZATION OF INFERENCE IN INTERNAL AFFAIRS?

THE SOLIDARITY CLAUSE IN THE EUROPEAN UNION TREATY AS A HUMAN SECURITY VECTOR. A FAREWELL TO TERRORISM OR LEGITIMIZATION OF INFERENCE IN INTERNAL AFFAIRS?

Author(s): Antonio Muñoz Aunion / Language(s): English / Issue: 1/2016

Keywords: Citizens; Democracy; European fortress; European governance; Interference; Human security risk – assessment; Rule of law; Solidarity

The draft European Constitution crafted in the interval between the terrorist attacks of 9/11 in New York and those taken place in Moscow, Madrid, was concluded shortly before the attacks on public transportation in London in 2005, including what is called a solidarity clause (art. 42) and its implementation modalities (art. III-329), however after various vicissitudes, it was never ratified by the Member States and felt into oblivion; while it remained a driving force in the subsequent Lisbon Treaty in force since 2009 as, section 222 in the fifth part under Title VII.

«Slavic World» in the early Middle Ages: the search of form (Forum) (Answers to the questionnaire of «Studia Slavica et Balcanica Petropolitana»)

«ПЛЕМЯ» В СЛАВЯНСКОМ МИРЕ В РАННЕЕ СРЕДНЕВЕКОВЬЕ (ФОРУМ)

Author(s): Andrej Pleterski,A. A. Gorskiy,Viktor Vladimirovich Puzanov,Petr V. Shuvalov / Language(s): Russian / Issue: 1 (19)/2016

Keywords: tribe; early Slavs; Slavic tribes; župa; chiefdom

In answer to question of the appropriateness of using the term «tribe» in relation to the Slavic societies of the early Middle Ages, A. Gorskiy and A. Pleterski said that they did not use the term in this context, while V. Puzanov said that he uses the term to refer to both Slavic pre-state formations in general and those Slavic ethnic groups that based their cohesion on real or fictitious kinship. P. Shuvalov said that he prefers to use the term «tribe» rather as a literary concept, than a scientific term. According to Gorskiy, the use of the term «tribe» in reference to the early medieval Slavs is incorrect because, first, the word is not used in this sense in primary sources, and, second, the Slavs in the early Middle Ages were at the stage of chiefdoms, and not at that of tribes. A. Pleterski, while pointing out that many Slavic tribal names are only attested in late sources and mainly the result of the identification from the outside, thinks that the basic social unit of the early Slavs was župa (zhupa). According to Pleterski, župa as the basic unit of the early Slavic society was a social, economic, religious and legal entity. Puzanov points to the uncertainty of correlation of the terms «tribe» and «chiefdom» in relation to the early medieval Slavs, noting that in historiography the term chiefdom used to be used to what was known earlier «tribal principality». Meanwhile, Puzanov notes, the presence of a («tribal») leader does not automatically mean that the question is of a chiefdom. In answer to the question of mechanisms of the emergence and reproduction of tribal identities in the Slavic community, Shuvalov said that in contrast to the Germanic tribes, Slavs, apparently, had no strong traditions of aristocratic ancestral memory with its emphasis on proximity to the world of gods. According to Shuvalov, the princely power among the Slavs in what concerned the formation of their tribal identities based on the folk presentation of history as well as the memory of three to five previous generations within the real ancestral memory.

What «Slavic tribe» is? Answering the editorial questions of «Studia Slavica et Balcanica Petropolitana»

ЧТО ЕСТЬ «СЛАВЯНСКОЕ ПЛЕМЯ»? ОТВЕТЫ НА ВОПРОСЫ РЕДАКЦИИ ЖУРНАЛА «STUDIA SLAVICA ET BALCANICA PETROPOLITANA»

Author(s): Evgenii A. Shinakov / Language(s): Russian / Issue: 1 (19)/2016

Keywords: tribe; tribal association; chiefdom; lineage; mechanisms of polito-genesis

The notions «tribe» and «tribal association» have been used by the archaeologists, including the author, for a long time to define the ethno-territorial communities (the Slavic ones of «antiquity» and Middle Ages as well), correlating with certain archaeological culture or its local branches. Meanwhile, these definitions do not cover the whole range of ethno-social and politico-potestary bodies, including synchrostadial tribes and their associations. The Slavic tribes can be associated with the segmental lineages, basing on the African materials. «Chiefdoms» can be of different forms, including tribal association and complex ethno-potestary tribes with different forms of government and organization of power. The mechanism of emergence of tribal and supra-tribal structures, which are essential for these bodies, are different, but limited (about ten) and range in various Slavic and Germanic groups. A retinue can be a consolidating factor, but on the supra-tribal level. In Ancient Rus’ it served as a tool during the period of the «early state» consolidation, which transformed local tribal associations — «Sklavinias» — into a new «supra-complex chiefdom» in the second half of the tenth century. The Slavic community of the Middle Ages was unified by the kindred languages and dialects, and by nothing else, except the consciousness of the educated highranked clergymen — the authors of the chronicles and annals.

Slavic Ethnopolities: A few Remarks on the «Tribal Question» as Answer to the Questionnaire of «Studia Slavica et Balcanica Petropolitana»

SLAVIC ETHNOPOLITIES: A FEW REMARKS ON THE «TRIBAL QUESTION» AS ANSWER TO THE QUESTIONNAIRE OF «STUDIA SLAVICA ET BALCANICA PETROPOLITANA»

Author(s): Krzysztof Fokt / Language(s): English / Issue: 1 (19)/2016

Keywords: Slavs; Western Slavdom; ethnic identity; political structures; tribe

The texts attempts to answer the questions raised by the Editors of «Studia Slavica et Balcanica Petropolitana» in their questionnaire, focusing on the Western Slavdom. The main assumptions of the paper is that there is no definition of Slavic tribe that would correspond directly with the past reality. Due to the scarcity of sources we are condemned to use some conventionalized terms instead and that is how the term «tribe» functions for the Western Slavdom: as de facto synonym of the notions of «ethnos» or «people». Therefore, almost every social group which had some common name that could have been comprehended as an ethnonym — only apart from the huge dynastic polities which finally evolved into early states — may be called a «tribe» in the present Polish, Czech or German scholarship. In the paper, attempts were made also to divide the Western Slavdom into four distinctive zones representing various patterns of ethnopolitical structures: the «limes» zone (filled with gentes comparable to other gentile peoples of late Antiquity and early Middle Ages), the interior (dominated probably by some segmentary societies being not very active in warfare and trade and for a long time remaining «invisible» for the sources as ethnopolitical structures), the maritime area (early active in trade and warfare but not divided — as far as we know — into peoples/tribes) and the transition zone between the «limes» and interior areas (embracing both Lusatias and the left-bank Silesia).

The realities of the Livonian War. Dünaburg, 1577

РЕАЛИИ ЛИВОНСКОЙ ВОЙНЫ В ПОКАЗАНИЯХ РУССКИХ ВОЕННОПЛЕННЫХ. ДЮНАБУРГ, ГОД 1577

Author(s): M. B. Bessudnova,Marina Borisovna Bessudnova / Language(s): Russian / Issue: 1 (19)/2016

Keywords: Livonian War; National Archives of Sweden; Ivan the Terrible

This article contains text, translation and commentary records of the interrogation of Russian prisoners in Dünaburg (1577) from National Archives of Sweden. These events took place during the Livonian War (1558–1583). It was a war of Ivan the Terrible for the Baltic states. In 1577 Ivan the Terrible went to the big march on Livonia ended taking almost 20 castles. Events in Dunaburg werea part of a campaign in 1577. From the contents of the document, you can get some information about the structure of the Russian army, the nature and direction of hostilities, the plague and measures to combat it, the strategic plans of Ivan IV.

The Russian colony in France (January 24th, 1941)

РУССКАЯ КОЛОНИЯ ВО ФРАНЦИИ (24 ЯНВАРЯ 1941 ГОДА). ПЕРЕВОД С ФРАНЦУЗСКОГО, ПУБЛИКАЦИЯ И КОММЕНТАРИИ

Author(s): N. V. Turygina / Language(s): French,Russian / Issue: 1 (19)/2016

Keywords: Russian emigration; Second World War; refugee; stateless person; occupation of France

The article presents the publication of the review «The Russian colony in France» made by the Don ataman in exile M. Grabbe in January 1941 and sent to prefect of police in Paris. The text was written in French and revealed in the State Archive of the Russian Federation. It is an important source on the history of the first-wave post-revolutionary Russian emigration during the Second World War. The document enlightens on the following subjects: the making process of the Russian colony in France; its number and social, ethnic, professional and confessional structure; political movements and parties among the Russian refugees in France; institutional structure of the colony; its legal status; Russian combatants in France during the Second World War. The text characterises repeatedly the living conditions of the Russian refugees as lacking civil rights, especially in war time. Undoubtedly, the author of the review hopes to solve a range of questions under the new circumstances with the support of the occupation authorities.

«Svyatoslaviada», or what is common between the knyaz Svyatoslav Igorevich and the “heroes of poet Homer?”

«СВЯТОСЛАВИАДА», ИЛИ ЧТО ОБЩЕГО У КНЯЗЯ СВЯТОСЛАВА ИГОРЕВИЧА С «ГЕРОЯМИ ПЕСНОПЕВЦА ГОМЕРА»?

Author(s): Sergei Aleksandrovich Kozlov / Language(s): Russian / Issue: 1 (19)/2016

Keywords: Svyatoslav Igorevich; Rus’-Byzantine wars; Primary Chronicle; Leo the Deacon; John Scylitzas

The epic-heroic image of knyaz Svyatoslav Igorevich stored in the Byzantine and Old Russian historical traditions, is explained through the folklore origin of tales about him, that form the basis of these texts. Based on the Primary Chronicle’s narratives, we put forward the hypothesis of the existence in Old Rus’ a cycle of tales about Svyatoslav, that existed in the form of songs-slava like chansons de geste, glorifying the deeds of knyaz-warrior. The epic tales about Svyatoslav circulated not only in Old Russian, but also in the Turk-nomadic and Byzantine traditions. The variability of parallel episodes by Leo the Deacon and John Scylitzas celebrated the same heroes and events of the Balkan campaign of Svyatoslav, suggests the existence in the byzantine folklore a cycle of heroic songs about the Rus’-Byzantine war.

The legitimation of the image of the Saint: on the issue of the authenticity of the relics of Alexander Nevsky

THE LEGITIMATION OF THE IMAGE OF THE SAINT: ON THE ISSUE OF THE AUTHENTICITY OF THE RELICS OF ALEXANDER NEVSKY

Author(s): A. V. Sirenov / Language(s): English / Issue: 1 (19)/2016

Keywords: the relics of Alexander Nevsky; Russian history of the 15th–17th centuries; veneration of saints; Old Russian culture; historical memory

The article is devoted to the history of the relics of Alexander Nevsky. The author assumes that the description of the «invention» of the relics in 1481 didn’t reflect the reality. In the actual fact, the relics had been kept on the surface of the ground in a stone tomb since the funeral until 1697, when they were solemnly put in a special reliquary. The stone sarcophagus protected the relics of Alexander Nevsky against numerous fires. The article cites and publishes the note put in the coffin of Alexander Nevsky in 1681, which told that after a fire the fragments of the relics had been collected together. Therefore, the relics of Alexander Nevsky should be deemed authentic.

The Seal of Grand Duke Dimitry Ivanovich Donskoy and Russian Fobia of 14th century

ПЕЧАТЬ ВЕЛИКОГО КНЯЗЯ ДМИТРИЯ ИВАНОВИЧА ДОНСКОГО И РУССКИЕ ФОБИИ XIV ВЕКА

Author(s): Aleksandr Vladimirovich Lavrentyev / Language(s): Russian / Issue: 1 (19)/2016

Keywords: Grand Prince Dmitry Donskoy; Metropolitan Alexei; pendant seal; plague

The paper contains an attempt to reinterpret the motto and clarify the date of the lead pendant seal of Grand Duke of Moscow, Dmitry Donskoy (1363–1389). Among numerous princely pendant seals of 14th–15th cent., thе seal under discussion is known as a unique one due to inscription and image of the obverse. Unlike other seals, with images of patron saints of the princes — owners, the seal of Dmitry Donskoy is decorated with the head of a king encircled with the motto «Everything Passes». The reign of Grand Duke Dmitry Donskoy fell on time of pan-European pandemic of plague, that came to Rus’ in 1353. Comforting tone of motto was dictated by a heavy moral atmosphere caused by plague, that seriously impacted the Moscow Grand Dukeʼs House. The idea of the original decoration of the seal probably belonged to Metropolitan of Moscow Alexei (between 1292 and 1305–1378).

The Alchemist, the Janissaries and «relatives of the Byzantine Tsars»: Palaeologus in Russia in the late 16th – first half of the 17th century

АЛХИМИК, ЯНЫЧАР И «РОДИЧ ВИЗАНТИЙСКИХ ЦАРЕЙ»: ПАЛЕОЛОГИ В РОССИИ КОНЦА XVI – ПЕРВОЙ ПОЛОВИНЫ XVII ВЕКА

Author(s): Tatyana Anatolyevna Oparina / Language(s): Russian / Issue: 1 (19)/2016

Keywords: Russian-Greek relations; Migration from the Ottoman Empire and its vassal states; genealogy; biography; foreigners in the Russian part of the privileged class

Based for the first time introduced archival sources, this article examines the presence in Russia of immigrants, identify themselves as Palaeologus. Dynasty of the last Emperor of Byzantium was interrupted by the beginning of the 16th century and from that time began to appear numerous «descendants». They were considered the true heirs of the Imperial family by the Christian patriarchs of the East, rulers of Moldavia and Wallachia and Western Europe. Some of them moved to Russia, hoping to use the famous name to enter the privileged class. Russian authorities readily responded to similar requests for Russian citizenship. However, most Palaeologus did not reach a significant status in Russia. One Paleologus turned out to be an alchemist and was exiled to Kazan and his companion after 30 years in exile declared himself a direct descendant of Alexander the Great. Another Paleologus, a former Janissaries, couldn’t keep the corporation of Moscow nobility. The real success of the promotion in Russian society made other immigrants: Murzas. They and their descendants joined the ranks of the Russian nobility.

Russia’s entry into World War I: Echoes and reactions in Serbia (July–August 1914)

ВСТУПЛЕНИЕ РОССИИ В ПЕРВУЮ МИРОВУЮ ВОЙНУ: ОТКЛИКИ И РЕАКЦИЯ В СЕРБИИ (ИЮЛЬ–АВГУСТ 1914 г.)

Author(s): Miroslav Radivojević / Language(s): Russian / Issue: 1 (19)/2016

Keywords: World War I; July crisis; Serbian-Russian relations; Kingdom of Serbia; Russian empire

The paper aims at highlighting Serbian reactions and responses to the support provided to Serbia from Russia during the July crisis of 1914 and after Austro-Hungary’s announcement of war against Serbia. The work is based on historical data, published documents, journalism, as well as diaries and memoirs of contemporaries. The review includes the position of diplomatic, political and military leaders of Serbia. Public opinion and views of prominent figures of the time are also examined. Upon receiving the Austro-Hungarian ultimatum on the 23rd of July, the Minister of Finance Lazar Paču first contacted Vasiliy Shtrandtman. Russian chargé d’affaires was thus, according to his own words, the first foreigner cognizant of the ultimatum contents. The diplomat was soon visited by Regent Alexander and the head of the Serbian government Nikola Pašić, who sought advice. Regent Alexander’s telegram to Tsar Nicholas II, sent on the 24th of July, was the following step in the Serbian officials’ reliance on the powerful Slavic state. At the same time, Serbian diplomatic representatives abroad (among whom the most important were those in Rome and London) were informed from Belgrade that the key to the situation lay in the attitude of Russia. The Russian government then counselled Serbia to withdraw the troops if it wasn’t capable of defence, and to allow the great forces to solve the dispute. Russia created and endorsed peace initiatives. In response to the aforementioned letter of Regent Alexander, which Nicholas II sent on the 27th of July, he advised Serbia to support his efforts directed towards «avoiding bloodshed», but he also assured the Regent that «Russia would not abandon Serbia» even in the case of war. Serbia’s great expectations from the orthodox empire were fairly conspicuous. Shtrandtman remembered very emotional reception of the aforementioned Tsar’s telegram. In the official diplomatic relations, the representatives of the Kingdom of Serbia expressed gratitude to Russia for its help. Each move of the Slavic empire was minutely analysed and examined, and there was a «mystical confidence» in its power. The public followed the messages from St. Petersburg very carefully. These were some of the headlines in Serbian newspapers: «Friends care about Serbia»; «Serbia is not alone»; «Serbia is safe, Russia supports it»; «The Russians for the Serbs»; «Russia rises» etc. While protecting its «small ally» from devastation, Russia simultaneously protected its own interests and the reputation of a great power. Moreover, Serbia was given the opportunity to fight for its own survival, and to accomplish its war aims. By a cruel irony, the Russian empire disappeared in the whirlwind of war, and thus its actions were even more respected.

«It is best of the accessible»: quality of imported consumer goods of the USSR from the socialist countries of Central and Eastern Europe (1950s – 1980s)

«ЛУЧШЕЕ ИЗ ДОСТУПНОГО»: КАЧЕСТВО ПОТРЕБИТЕЛЬСКОГО ИМПОРТА СССР ИЗ СОЦИАЛИСТИЧЕСКИХ СТРАН ЦЕНТРАЛЬНОЙ И ВОСТОЧНОЙ ЕВРОПЫ (1950-е – 1980-е гг.)

Author(s): E. D. Tverdyukova / Language(s): Russian / Issue: 1 (19)/2016

Keywords: USSR; central and East Europe; Council for Mutual Economic Assistance (COMECON); users; the consumer import

The article is first studied in the historiography of the problem of import from the countries of Central and Eastern Europe in the context of the consumer revolution in the USSR. The author gives primary attention to questions of the quality of goods of the mass demand. In the course of a study clerical documents and statistical materials from the Russian State Archive of Economy and State Archive of the Russian Federation were used, and also the published memoirs and works of literature. The author shows that the purchases of imports within the framework of Council for Mutual Economic Assistance (COMECON), expanded in 1950s, had great significance in the consumption structure of Soviet citizens. Foot-wear, clothing, furniture, household goods from socialist countries partly compensated scarcity on the domestic market. The quality of these products, however, not always corresponded to the highest standards, deliveries were achieved in violation of contractual obligations on the assortment, the timing, the seasonality. The government was forced to create the multi-stage system of control, intended to prevent the penetration into the retail network of substandard things. However, piety before the import was formed independently of its consumer properties, being the component of the mythical means of the West.

White Rus’: a European Dimension

БЕЛАЯ РУСЬ: ЕВРОПЕЙСКОЕ ИЗМЕРЕНИЕ

Author(s): E. V. Rusina / Language(s): Russian / Issue: 1 (19)/2016

Keywords: White Russia; Eastern Europe; historical sources

Book reviewThe article presents a review of «Alba Ruscia: Belarusian Lands at the Crossroads of Cultures and Civilizations (10th–16th centuries)», the collective study of Belarusian historians, edited by A. V. Martyniouk (Moscow, 2015). In reviewer’s opinion, the book deals with a wide range of important issues, a special stress is laid on the activities of little-known historical personalities. Particular attention is also paid to the specificity of data regarding Eastern Europe in the Middle Ages and Early Modern times which can be found in the works of foreign authors. Reviewer emphasizes the high academic quality of the essays included in the book and believes that it may serve as an impetus for the further research of problems involved.

Dr. Kirsti Ekonen (1963-2016)

DR. KIRSTI EKONEN (1963–2016)

Author(s): E.V. Petrov / Language(s): Russian / Issue: 1 (19)/2016

SOURCES AND DETERMINANTS OF MUSICAL INSPIRATION IN THE WORKS OF DMITRI SHOSTAKOVICH AND BENJAMIN BRITTEN

ŹRÓDŁA I UWARUNKOWANIA INSPIRACJI MUZYCZNEJ W TWÓRCZOŚCI DYMITRA SZOSTAKOWICZA I BENJAMINA BRITTENA

Author(s): Anna Mikolon / Language(s): Polish / Issue: 4/2015

Keywords: musical inspirations; works of Dmitri Shostakovich; works of Benjamin Britten; comparison of biographies; creative personality; musical talent

The content of this paper compares the biographies and creative achievements ofDmitri Shostakovich and Benjamin Britten. The comparison of their lives reveals similarities as far as their innate abilities are concerned, as well as obvious differences resulting from distinct educational paths and living conditions. The observations made in the essay testify to the importance and influence of family ties and strict musical education upon their lives.