The Research Initiative on Post-Soviet Space (RIPSS) provides knowledge and understanding of the region formerly dominated by the Soviet Union. The urgent need for expertise on this complex and increasingly volatile region has been demonstrated by Russia’s war against Ukraine and its global fallout.
Our network’s research covers history, linguistics, law, culture, and society.
Core aims
- Consolidate the emerging strength of post-Soviet studies and research at the University of Melbourne.
- Build a platform for further grant success.
- Convene the RIPSS seminar series.
- Embed our research into teaching at the undergraduate and postgraduate levels.
- Extend the reach and impact of our research, including through digital scholarship.
- Advance postgraduate and post-doctoral recruitment and enhance the postgraduate experience in post-Soviet studies across the University.
- Build relationships of mutual benefit with other research groups and institutions in the Asia-Pacific Region.
- Advance knowledge and public understanding of the post-Soviet world, past and present.
News and Events
Loading...
RIPSS promotes high-quality research through peer-reviewed journals and book series:
- Journal of Soviet and Post-Soviet Politics and Society (General Editor: Julie Fedor) (an international bi-annual journal published by ibidem Press, Stuttgart and distributed by Columbia University Press)
- Elements in Soviet and Post-Soviet History (Editor: Mark Edele) (a new Cambridge University Press series designed to support an intellectually sophisticated reinvigoration of historically informed post-Soviet area studies)
- Australian Slavonic and East European Studies (Editor: Robert Lagerberg) (a refereed venue for work on all aspects of Slavonic and East European studies, including language, literature, history, political and social science, and art)
Our people
Prof Mark Edele
Hansen Chair in History of the Soviet Union and Successor States , Head of Program - History
mark.edele@unimelb.edu.au
+61383440523
A/Prof Julie Fedor
Associate Professor In Modern European History , Deputy Head of Program - History , Engagement Coordinator - SHAPS
julie.fedor@unimelb.edu.au
+61390359563
Dr Sofya Glazunova
Senior Lecturer - Media Industries, Media Communications
sofya.glazunova@unimelb.edu.au
+61383447251
Dr Robert Lagerberg
Senior Lecturer in Russian Studies; Convenor, Russian Studies
robertjl@unimelb.edu.au
+61383445187
A/Prof Nicholas Tochka
Associate Professor In Music (Ethnomusicology)
nicholas.tochka@unimelb.edu.au
A/Prof Maria Tumarkin
Associate Professor In Creative Writing
m.tumarkin@unimelb.edu.au
+61383444988
Our international advisory board
- Doctor Luca Anceshi, Central Asian Studies, University of Glasgow
- Professor Yoko Aoshima, Central and East European Modern History; History of the Russian Empire, Hokkaido University
- Professor Stefan Auer, European Studies, The University of Hong Kong
- Doctor Una Bergmane, Eastern European Studies, University of Helsinki
- Doctor Olga Boichak, Digital Cultures, The University of Sydney
- Professor Natalia Chaban, Media and Communication, University of Canterbury, New Zealand
- Professor Sheila Fitzpatrick FAHA FAAAS, History of Modern Russia/the Soviet Union, Australian Catholic University and The University of Chicago
- Professor Polly Jones, Schrecker-Barbour Fellow, Modern Russian Literature, University College, Oxford
- Professor Andres Kasekamp, Elmar Tampõld Chair of Estonian Studies, Professor of History, University of Toronto
- Professor Dr Botakoz Kassymbekova, Colonial History, University of Zurich
- Doctor Olesya Khromeychuk, Director Ukrainian Institute London
- Doctor Andryi Kohut, Director at Sectoral State Archive of the Security Service of Ukraine
- Professor Ivan Kurilla, History and Slavic Studies, Ohio State University
- Doctor David Marples, Distinguished University Professor of Russian and East European History, University of Alberta
- Professor Dr Hab Andrzej Nowak, Eastern European History, Jagiellonian University, Krakow
- Emeritus Professor Marko Pavlyshyn, Ukrainian Studies, Monash University
- Doctor Diego Repenning, Russian and Czech Studies, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile
- Doctor Erik R. Scott, Director, Center for Russian, East European & Eurasian Studies, John P. Black Professor of History, University of Kansas
- Peter Tesch, former Ambassador to Russia, Principal, Hilltop Consulting Services
Mailing list
To stay in touch with what’s happening at RIPSS, you can sign up for our email list by emailing: julie.fedor@unimelb.edu.au
Social media
- Connect with us on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/postsovietspace - Connect with us on Twitter X:
- Connect with us on LinkedIn: