Many applicants with an interest in African and Oriental cultures are wondering who to work with. Orientalism and Africanism offer students the widest range of knowledge that can be used to build a successful career both in Russia and abroad.
How Orientalism and Africanism appeared
First of all, it is worth saying that the term "oriental studies" is losing its relevance in the foreign academic environment, since it is inextricably linked with the colonial past of Europe, and this Europeans are trying to get rid of this past by all means. Interdisciplinary research using various methods to study countries in Africa, Asia and the Middle East is becoming increasingly preferred.
The traditional purpose of oriental studies is to study the culture, languages, economics, politics, ethnography, religion and art of countries located in Asia and Africa. The foundations of European Oriental studies were laid during the period of the Great Geographical Discoveries, when a huge new world opened up for Europeans, populated by people who speak unfamiliar languages, live in a different culture and have completely different values from European ones.
In order to establish contact with strangers, it was necessary to study them first, and for this it was necessary to master the languages of these nations. The Jesuit missionaries, who first translated the Bible into Chinese, made a huge contribution to the study of eastern and African cultures.
Where to study the cultures of the East and Africa
It’s worth starting with the fact that for the first time a systematic study of the eastern peoples began in Russia in the middle of the 15th century, with the formation of universities in St. Petersburg and Moscow. The great importance of knowledge about how eastern societies are structured was acquired during the Caucasian wars and expansion into Central Asia.
Moscow State University named after MV Lomonosov is today one of the leading centers of oriental studies. Who to work after this prestigious university? The answer to this question, as it may seem, lies on the surface, because the basic practical skill of the graduates of the Department of Oriental Studies is knowledge of several Oriental languages.
And such skills allow you to work as translators in various fields of activity: from trade to international diplomacy. Graduates, whose asset besides the eastern language is one of the working languages of the UN, can try their luck in the competition for filling the post of UN translator. Orientalism and Africanism in Russian universities is a fairly common specialty, but there are three major centers that historically study the East, in the broadest sense of the word.
The most famous and prestigious faculties and research centers specializing in the training of professionals in the field of oriental studies and African studies include:
- East Faculty of St. Petersburg State University.
- Institute of Asian and African Countries, Moscow State University named after MV Lomonosov.
- School of Oriental Studies, Higher School of Economics.
- Institute of Oriental Studies and International Relations, Kazan University.
- Institute of Oriental Manuscripts (prepares candidates and doctors of sciences).
Petersburg University
For residents of St. Petersburg or for those applicants who want to move there, there is a great opportunity to enter the Oriental faculty of St. Petersburg University, where you can study the languages and cultures of many peoples of the Middle East, Central Asia, the Caucasus, the Far East and Southeast Asia. Actually, the Faculty of Oriental Studies and African Studies is neither in St. Petersburg State University, nor in Moscow State University, and their functions are performed by the Eastern Department and the Institute of Asian and African Countries of Moscow State University.
The latter offers students the opportunity to specialize in one of three areas: historical, philological or socio-economic. Despite the fact that the set of proposed competencies may not seem too extensive, knowledge of several foreign languages simultaneously with knowledge of the history of the regions provides undeniable advantages in employment in various international organizations, both state and private, as well as in non-profit humanitarian missions, which are in large numbers work both in Africa and the Middle East.
Orientalism and Africanism: who should work?
The graduates of the centers for the study of oriental cultures have truly unique perspectives, because the modern world is unlimited, and finances, knowledge and goods move in it, meeting a minimum number of obstacles in its path. There are several possible answers to the question of who should work with oriental studies and African studies. However, additional competencies will also be a significant advantage for graduates of the respective departments.
Such an open and dynamic world requires numerous translators, consultants and specialists who understand the characteristics of each region and individual country. Orientalism and Africanism allow working in Russian diplomatic missions abroad, and knowledge of Oriental and African languages will allow you to get a job in an international corporation. Huge demand on the international labor market is enjoyed by people who speak Korean, Chinese and Arabic. Each of them can be learned at the corresponding department of one of the Russian universities.
One of the popular areas of application of acquired knowledge is teaching and scientific theoretical activity. In general, it is worth noting the construction of an academic career as one of the priority areas for graduates of departments and faculties of Oriental and African studies.
One can understand who to work after university even during training, because the acquired competencies can be used both in the economy and in the humanitarian sphere, or you can do business and promote international cooperation in trade.