Digital Russia Studies: An Introduction

The “digital” is profoundly changing Russia today. In this introduction, we argue that area studies, as a geographically and geopolitically motivated interdisciplinary research domain, is of particular value to and can provide a framework for describing the variety of responses to digitalization and explaining the mechanisms that assist or obstruct the “domestication” of global trends. Making a case for “Digital Russia Studies”, we sketch the contours of this emerging field. “Digital Russia” studies focuses on the digital transformation of the (geographical) area of study, while digital “Russia Studies” indicates the use of digital sources and methods in studying it. Together, Digital Russia Studies emphasizes how these two research lines are intertwined, interdependent, and mutually reinforcing. An overview of topics and methods covered by the chapters in the volume is provided.