Features of the Work of Insider Scientists in Russian Regions

Abstract

The purpose of the article is to analyze the general problems of the work of insider scientists in the conditions of Russian sociocultural reality and the organization of Russian science. The main attention is paid to researchers dealing with the problems of the ethnic culture of which they are representatives. As an example, we consider the work of a team of tuvinologists and the authors of this article, working on the same research project in 2021-2023. Scientific insiders living in the regions of Russia work in the system of Russian science; they are subject to the general professional and sociocultural conditions in the country. This article examines the work of insiders from different angles: customers of research, the scientific community (Russian and regional), culture, sociocultural environment and scientists in culture. This relationship contains a significant imbalance of power and interests. It is argued that the work of insiders is more difficult because scientists in their own culture can be both insiders and outsiders in relation to the issue under study, an aspect of the lives of fellow countrymen. The results of the authors’ own experience in solving similar problems are presented, and a way out is proposed called the joint circle strategy, which includes constant formulation and discussion of paradoxical questions.

Keywords

• insider scientist
• insider work
• regional science
• russian science
• tuvinology
• internal anthropology