Modernizing Welfare in Russia and Other Post-Soviet States: Deinstitutionalization, Inclusion, and Agency

A panel session on “Modernizing Welfare in Russia and Other Post-Soviet States: Deinstitutionalization, Inclusion, and Agency” was successfully organized and held by the International Laboratory of Social Integration Studies (ILSIS) at the XXII April International Scientific Conference on Economic and Social Development to be held on 21 April, 2021 via Microsoft Team Platform in order to interact with presenters and participants from different parts of the world.

The session was chaired and moderated by our laboratory head, Elena Iarskaia-Smirnova and our academic supervisor, Linda J. Cook. At the session was a discussant, Dr. Michael Rasell, from the University of Lincoln, UK who was able to unite all the papers that were discussed and gave a succinct and constructive comparison of all the presentations. The participants also shared insights on social reforms as it affects players and members within the society. The topics that were discussed included: ‘Entrepreneurs of Long-Term Care Reform on "Dignified Aging" in Russia’ presented by E. Zdravomyslova (EUSP), A. Nizamova (EUSP); ‘Disability in Kyrgyzstan: Challenges and Barriers of Reforms’ presented by R. Orozova (AUCA), N. Bagdasarova (AUCA); ‘Fragmented Deinstitutionalization of Russian Child Welfare’ presented by Tarasenko (HSE University - St. Petersburg), A. Pivovarova (Helsinki University), M. Jappinen (Helsinki University), M. Kulmala (Helsinki University); ‘Ideologies of Intergroup Relations in Pedagogical Discourse: Representation of Cultures and Intercultural Interaction in the Educational Books for Migrant Children'’ presented by T. Ryabichenko (HSE University), M. Kozlova (HSE University)

 The session was a success thanks to the unique research carried by the different presenters who displayed high dexterity in their presentations and also the professional way in which all questions were addressed.