The Institute of Oriental Studies of the Russian Academy of Sciences has a long historical record, it turned 200 years old in 2018.
THE INSTITUTE OF ORIENTAL STUDIES OF THE RUSSIAN ACADEMY OF SCIENCES (IOS RAS) is a leading Russian research institute for Oriental studies, which focuses on comprehensive research of a vast region comprising North Africa, Asia, Australia and Oceania. It is the largest and one of the most prominent academic institutes for the humanities in Russia.
The Institute of Oriental Studies RAS has a long and rich history dating back to the early 19th century. It was established in 1818.
Among the Institute’s directors were some of the most eminent Soviet and Russian scholars and statesmen: Full Member of the Soviet Academy of Sciences, Doctor of History, First Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Tajikistan Bobodjan Gafurov; Full Member of the Soviet Academy of Sciences, Doctor of Economic Sciences, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation (1996–1998) and Prime Minister (1998–1999) Evgeny Primakov, Corresponding Member of the Soviet Academy of Sciences, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Mikhail Kapitsa, Full Member of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Doctor of History Vitaly Naumkin (current President of IOS RAS).
STRUCTURE
The Institute of Oriental Studies of the Russian Academy of Sciences consists of 30 research departments, some of which are focused on area studies, ranging from Maghreb to Australia and Oceania, while others focus on specific fields of studies, from history, languages and anthropology to economics and political science.
Some of the departments have a long history dating back to the early 19th century when the Institute was first founded. Other departments are very new – their establishment is a response to current challenges of modern era such as digital transformation in Humanities. Thus, one of the main focuses of the Institute today is the implementation of the newest methods in its scientific activities.
WHAT WE DO
Academic research
Academic research is a key focus of the Institute of Oriental Studies RAS.
Research at the Institute is carried out in multiple fields including area studies (Middle East, Arab World, Israel, India, China, Japan, Korea and Mongolia, Southeast Asia, Australia and Oceania, Central Asia, the Caucasus and the Ural-Volga Region, Crimea and the Mediterranean) and various issues of the history, archaeology, culture, languages, art and anthropology of Asian and African regions as well as modern political and economic developments, international relations in the macro-region and its sub-regions.
One of the most important formats of work at the Institute is field research. Researchers from all departments carry out field studies in most of the Asian and African states including Syria, Yemen, Myanmar, etc.
The Institute carries out about a dozen of regular archeological and other missions and expeditions.
The research results are reflected in individual and collective books, articles, analytical reports. Every year the researchers at the Institute publish around 100 monographs and more than 700 academic articles in different languages.
The Institute's researchers have made an enormous contribution to the development of both theoretical and practical issues of Russian Oriental studies. Their fundamental works, many of which were translated into European and Oriental languages, gained recognition around the world.
Annually the Institute holds more than 100 academic events including international, federal and inter-institutional conferences, seminars and workshops.
Along with that the Institute has some traditional conferences and seminars that are organized on a regular basis.
The conferences and seminars organized by the Institute of Oriental Studies RAS are attended by hundreds of researchers, experts and decision-makers from Russia and many other countries.
Applied research
The Institute of Oriental Studies RAS has significant experience in the field of unformal diplomacy. Diplomats, key decision- and policy-makers from different countries participate in expert meetings and Track-2 and Track-1.5 conferences organized by the IOS RAS.
The Institute organized four rounds of inter-Palestinian consultations (2011, 2016, 2019, 2024), two rounds of inter-Syrian consultations in 2015, International Expert Meetings on the Gulf Area Security Concept (2019, 2021, 2023), International Conferences on Security and Cooperation in the South-China Sea (2013, 2015, 2017, 2018).
The IOS RAS researchers write analytical materials for government agencies (Security Council of the Russian Federation, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation, Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation and others).
The researchers at IOS RAS also provide expertise to museums, cultural centers as well as individuals on various issues considering Oriental Studies.
Expert work
The researchers of the Institute include Russian International Affairs Council members and Evgeny Primakov Center for International Cooperation experts, members of the Valdai International Discussion Club, the Russia-Islamic World Strategic Vision Group, members of dissertation councils and editorial boards of leading scientific publications.
Education
The Institute of Oriental Studies RAS offers postgraduate education and doctoral training. Young researchers from different countries regularly defend PhD and DSc theses at the Academic Council of the Institute.
The Institute has departments in some of the most prominent Russian universities: National Research University “Higher School of Economics” (HSE University), Kazan Federal University, Sevastopol State University, State Academic University for the Humanities (GAUGN).
Since 2024, the Institute implements the Priority 2030 project in a consortium with MGIMO University.
Moreover, the Institute’s researchers teach at the country's leading universities (Lomonosov Moscow State University, MGIMO University, GAUGN, RUDN University, HSE University, Kazan Federal University, Kutafin Moscow State Law University).
Educational and cultural activity
The Institute is actively engaged in educational and cultural activities. Since 2021 Institute’s Eastern Cultural Center holds various exhibitions, lectures, poetry evenings, film screenings, book presentations, cultural days of different countries of the East. Many events are organized in cooperation embassies.
The Institute also has an academic club “Amarna” which organizes lectures by IOS researchers.
Publishing
The Institute publishes several periodicals and academic journals. Its main and one of the oldest journals – Vostok (Oriens) is listed in Scopus and has a history dating back to 1955.
The Institute’s has its own publishing department which publishes annually dozens of books. In 2024 the IOS RAS opened a Bookstore which made it possible to sell and deliver books by IOS researchers all around Russia.