Centre for African Studies

Publications

• Book

  Maslov A., Sviridov V., Panin N. et al.

  E-Governance in Africa 2024: Opportunities and Challenges

  "E-Governance in Africa 2024: Opportunities and Challenges" is to serve as a handbook on digitalisation of public administration in African countries for African public authorities, businesses, research centres, and development institutions involved. The publication presents an overview of up-to-date information on e-Governance development in the region, trends, common challenges and solutions being implemented with a goal of shedding light on the diversity of e-governance initiatives in African countries. The book was prepared for the first session of the e-Governance Knowledge Sharing Program for Africa.

  M.: HSE, 2023.

• Article

  Shelkovnikov A., Дорошенко Г. А.

  Doroshenko, G., Shelkovnikov, A. Russia’s Policy Towards the Gulf: A Factor in Promoting ‘Global Majority’ Organisations // Asian Journal of Middle Eastern and Islamic Studies. 2025. Vol. 19 №3, P. 272–284.

  The study analyzes one of the most important elements of Russia’s foreign policy at the present stage. The stated topic is explored on the basis of three components: a study of the Russian Federation’s policy on promoting BRICS and the SCO among the Gulf countries, an analysis of the positions and degree of practical participation of the countries in the region in these organisations, and an assessment of the reaction of Western states to this rapprochement and the countermeasures they are taking. The study was conducted based on the theoretical framework of strategic narratives, which made it possible to analyse how Russia creates and disseminates narratives to shape perceptions and exert indirect influence on the policies of the Gulf countries. In conclusion, Russia’s policy of promoting ‘Global majority’ organisations in the Gulf is highly pragmatic and faces significant limitations. The countries of the region are ready to use these platforms to derive practical benefits in the economic, investment and logistics spheres, but are not yet ready (with the exception of Iran) to engage in open political opposition to traditional international institutions. The strategic ties between the countries of the region and the West, primarily the United States, play a significant role in this. At present, Western capitals are not only closely monitoring the depth of the region’s integration into the ‘Global majority’ organisations, but are also already attempting to implement at least two counter-strategies: a ‘carrot-and-stick’ policy and the promotion of new alternative international platforms (I2U2 or the India–Middle East–Europe Economic Corridor project).

  Asian Journal of Middle Eastern and Islamic Studies. 2025. Vol. 19. No. 3. P. 272-284.

• Book chapter

  Sviridov V.

  Russia and Africa: Not Only Grain, Oil, and Tanks

  The chapter discusses the topic of Russia-Africa interaction, its evolution and current state. The author analyzes the role given to Africa in Russian doctrinal documents, sums up Russia-Africa cooperation results to date, and investigates mainstream Western narratives on this issue. The article discusses possible future directions of cooperation between Russia and African countries beyond the military sphere or food. A special place is given to disruptive technologies, as well as information and communication technologies, space, energy transition and critical minerals, capacity-building, and technology transfer.

  In bk.: Security Index Yearbook. Volume 1 | 2024-2025 | Global Edition. Prt. 1: Global Security in the Times of Transition to a Multipolar World. PIR Center, 2024. Ch. 13. P. 221-234.