Authors

Lidia Yatluk¹;  ¹ University of Groningen, Netherlands

Discussion

For many years Russia has shown extremely low levels of generalized trust in the Eurobarometer survey. The situation is not significantly different in universities. The outbreak of a full-scale war with Ukraine has further exacerbated the atmosphere of distrust in universities. The state's encouragement to "seek out enemies" has cast a shadow over academic relationships. Concurrently, interactions with foreign academic counterparts have become increasingly intricate, influenced by international sanctions and the multifarious responses of foreign colleagues.
This study is based on 40 in-depth interviews with Russian faculty members and observations conducted during four week-long university development strategy sessions spanning from February to July 2022. It offers a comprehensive exploration of the strategies employed by faculty members to prioritize and revitalize relationships with some colleagues creating borders and ways to minimize communication with others inside university. Additionally, I describe changes in relationships with foreign project partners and university in general.
The findings from this study provide insights into the restructuring of professional communication within an atomized autocratic society, particularly in times of exceptional circumstances. This research is poised to shed light on the complex dynamics of trust and distrust in Russian universities, offering valuable implications for academia and broader societal contexts.