19.12.2025
The II International Conference “The East and Africa in the Transformation of Contemporary Reality” was held at RSUH. Scholars discussed how security, demography, and Russia’s historical partnership with these regions shape a new world order.
Before the Conference began, a welcoming address from RSUH Academic Supervisor Efim Pivovar was delivered by his deputy, Gleb Putilin:
“The East and Africa have become epicenters of civilizational dynamics that shape the principles of a new multipolar order. We view them as independent subjects of history. I am confident that our conference will contribute not only to the exchange of scholarly results, but also to the formation of new research ties, the development of international cooperation, and a deeper understanding of the role of the East and Africa in the modern world.”
RSUH First Vice-Rector Dmitry Bobrov outlined a number of challenges currently facing Asia and Africa in an era of global transformation:
“Terrorism, piracy, and organized crime are, unfortunately, the number one problem that persists in many countries of Africa and Asia. Scholars face a serious task: what can we offer the modern world today so that African countries can integrate into the civilized flow of the global world order?”
Another important issue highlighted by the Vice-Rector was the fertility rate. On the one hand, countries such as South Korea, with a fertility rate of 0.7, face the threat of rapid population decline and aging. On the other hand, many African states, such as Chad or Niger, where the rate exceeds 6, are experiencing powerful demographic growth.
Vice-Rector for International Cooperation Vera Zabotkina emphasized that the Conference represented RSUH’s practical contribution to understanding the new multipolar world. She named two RSUH projects: coordination of the humanitarian track of the BRICS University and a series of exhibitions in Africa that рассказывают about the historical role of Russia and the USSR in the development of the continent.
