Vlad Strukov

Moscow: a Global City is a collaborative research project that I am working on with Dr Sarah Hudspith (University of Leeds) and Prof. Helena Goscilo (Ohio State University, Columbus).

Moscow has always held a special significance in Russian consciousness, not only as a political, historical and cultural site of great importance, but also as a talisman of Russia’s messianic role in the global spiritual arena. While lacking a coherent, comprehensive plan and an infrastructure in the spheres of law, medicine, and education, Moscow under Mayor Yuri Luzhkov has undergone a series of facelifts that recall Stalin’s comprehensive project of constructing a New Moscow that would stun the world, and has taken a more prominent position on the world cultural stage.

We are organizing an international conference on the theme of the project and we aim to publish an edited volume of essays and a special issue of a leading journal, exploring Moscow as a global city. A policy statement will be issued and disseminated to Russian and international NGOs, policy makers and academic and cultural institutions.