School of Asian Studies

Publications

• Book

  Son Z.

  The Russian Koreans in the 1920s and 1930s. An Ethnic Community in the Face of Soviet Power

  This book offers the first comprehensive exploration of the history of Soviet Koreans (1920s-1930s), focusing into their experiences in the USSR. It examines the impact of Stalin's foreign and domestic policies on
  Soviet Koreans, their role in the socio-economic development of the Far East, and their contributions to the Red Army, as well as the cultural and educational aspects of their lives. Key themes include the political repression of Soviet Koreans during Stalin’s era and their subsequent rehabilitation in the Russian Federation.

  
  

  Brill, 2025.

• Article

  Alexander V. Solovyov.

  Archetypes in Samguk Sagi 三國史記: from Confucian Virtue/Vice-Bearers to Campbell’s Hero’s Journey and Transformations

  In Korean studies, the prevailing consensus has long been that Kim Pusik’s 金富軾 (1075-1151) Samguk sagi 三國史記narrative is predominantly Confucian, dry, and rational. However, in the 21st century, this view has been vigorously and successfully challenged by scholars who find profound drama and undeniable literary merit in this chronicle. Following this trend, I analyze the methods of creating archetypes in Kim Busik’s narrative, dividing these archetypes into two categories. Along with the obvious “functional” role models reflecting various Confucian virtues and vices, the Samguk sagi also contains more subtle, “hidden” archetypes rooted in a deep mythological consciousness. The biographies of historical figures reflect motifs of Joseph Campbell’s “Hero’s Journey” and the Transformations of the Hero, while unexpected parallels in the structure and narrative of the adventures of the “protagonists” Kim Yusin 金庾信 and “antagonists” Kungye 弓裔 offer intriguing comparisons. The interplay of “functional” and “Campbellian” archetypes throughout the storyline allows for a better appreciation of the literary talent of Kim Pusik and his predecessors, revealing cosmogonic motifs in the presentation of historical events seemingly uncharacteristic of Confucian historiography, and confirming the deeply syncretic nature of ancient and medieval Korean culture, which persisted until at least the 12th century. It can be surmised that Kim Pusik’s historiography did not reject myth perse, but on the contrary, embraced dramatic mythologization of historical figures that enhanced their significance for the history.

  Journal of Sinographic Philologies and Legacies. 2025. Vol. 1. No. 4. P. 46-86.

• Book chapter

  Damir Islamov.

  Russia and Turkey After 2022: Peculiarities of Bilateral Relations in Russian Academic Discourse

  The new stage of the Ukrainian crisis in 2022 has significantly influenced Russian-Turkish relations, which are defined by a complex interplay of cooperation and competition. This dynamic has drawn considerable attention from Russian scholars, shaping academic discourse on the subject. This chapter explores the dominant discourses articulated by Russian experts concerning the evolution of Russian-Turkish relations since 2022. The study outlines several primary frameworks for examining Russian-Turkish relations through the lens of Russian academic discourse: Peculiarities of Russian-Turkish relations, The Black Sea Region as a Zone of Cooperation/Competition, Ideological and Value-Based Approach in Russian-Turkish Relations, The Syrian Case in Russian-Turkish Relations, Economic Cooperation in Russian-Turkish Relations.

  In bk.: Shifting Power Dynamics in International Relations: From Unipolar Hegemony to Multipolarity. IGI Global Scientific Publishing, 2026. P. 321-334.

• Working paper

  Ustyuzhanin V., Zinkina J. V., Korotayev A.

  Extended Family Structures Exert a Causal Influence on Fertility

  Research of the impact of kin alloparenting on reproduction mainly focuses on mother’s parents and parents-in-law. The impact on fertility of extended families and the alloparental help with childcare they can provide has received much less attention. Moreover, there is an important lacuna in the existing studies of this problem, as it is mostly approached through correlational studies, while the presence of a causal link remains unclear. Using an instrumental variables approach, we demonstrate that prevalence of extended family structures exert a causal influence on fertility. A one standard-deviation increase in prevalence of extended families is associated with approximately 1.07 additional children per woman. These results highlight that family structure is not only statistically significant but also demographically consequential in shaping fertility outcomes.

  SocArXiv. Soc. SocArXiv, 2025