History is an integral part of any state, helping to answer many questions of our time. Its pages may be different, and we have the opportunity to learn many valuable lessons for today. And above all, without the memory of the past, there is no future.
Today, Russian and foreign students have a unique opportunity to professionally study the topics of genocides and the Holocaust at the International Center for Research and Education (ISEC) on the History of the Holocaust and Genocide of Russian State University of Humanities, established in 2016. .
Studying in this direction is very interesting and promising, as evidenced by the numerous positive reviews of the graduates of the program, despite the seemingly terrible and difficult subject. Similar master’s programs combining the themes of the Holocaust and genocides are available at a number of American universities, while in Europe and Israel they tend to focus on the Holocaust.
We will talk about all this with a well-known historian, professor at the Russian State Humanitarian University, co-chairman of the SPC “Holocaust”, director of the International Scientific and Educational Center (ISEC) on the history of the Holocaust and genocides -Ilya Altman.
– Ilya Alexandrovich, tell us about your project, about the knowledge that can be acquired within its walls.
– I am pleased to announce that in the fall of 2023, at the Faculty of History of the Russian State Humanitarian University, the master’s program “The politics of memory of the Holocaust and genocides” will continue its work again. The program is interdisciplinary in nature, with a focus on the genocides of Christian peoples during World War I and the Jews of Europe during World War II, and also investigates the origins and universality of this problem. Lectures and seminars are held against the background of the history of the Great Patriotic War, the Nazi and Romanian occupation regimes on the territory of the USSR. This is the first and only educational program in -Soviet space for an in-depth study of the cultural and political problems of the memory of the occupation regime in the USSR during the Great Patriotic War, the Holocaust and the genocides . The program was first tested in 2020-2022 on the basis of the Faculty of International Relations and Foreign Regional Studies of the Russian State University of Humanities. Previously, it was full-time and part-time and did not provide state-funded places. From the next academic year, the training will take place over two years, full-time only.
– Who teaches the students of the new master’s program “The Politics of Remembrance of the Holocaust and Genocide”?
– Courses for students are taught by leading experts, Russian and foreign researchers in the field of Holocaust history and historiography, who have teaching experience at universities in Europe, in the CIS, the United States, Argentina, Israel and Japan. The International Center for Research and Education on the History of the Holocaust and Genocide implements partnership programs with Rutgers University (USA), University of Potsdam (Germany), University Eötvös of Budapest (Hungary).
– What is the particular relevance and particularity of this program? In which fields, in the future, graduates will be able to apply their knowledge, in which field to look for work?
– An in-depth study of the politics of memory of the Holocaust and genocide will enable young scholars to realize their skills in relation to the rapidly developing field of historiography, to form competent knowledge on complex but relevant issues in Russia and around the world. This will make them competitive to develop successful careers in public service, media, non-profit and business organizations. Students will have the opportunity to participate in specialized seminars, internships, conferences, competitions, and will be able to publish in a thematic collection.
Many Russian archives, museums, libraries and research centers carry out projects to identify and publish archival materials on the Holocaust and genocides, research the problems of combating anti-Semitism, racism and xenophobia and conduct commemorative programs. Therefore, graduates of our master’s program have an excellent chance not only of receiving a prestigious diploma as a graduate of a master’s program from one of Russia’s leading liberal arts universities, but already during their studies to determine both the options for pursuing their scientific careers and the location of their future work.
– Some of your students do internships at the Holocaust Center. Surely, in the future, these guys will be able to contribute their scientific experience, knowledge …
– Of course, because the Center of the Russian State Humanitarian University also closely cooperates with the Center for Research and Education “Holocaust”, established by M.Ya. Gefter and I over 30 years ago.
– How is the term “genocide” interpreted from a scientific point of view, by modern specialists, because this notion is very vague today…
– Genocide – the deliberate destruction, in whole or in part, of a people, generally defined as an ethnic, national, racial or religious group. Raphael Lemkin coined the term in 1944.
– To my knowledge, the UN has played a decisive role in preserving the memory of the Holocaust…
– It’s true. The prevention of events such as the Holocaust was indeed essential to the creation of the United Nations. And in 2005, the United Nations General Assembly proclaimed January 27, the day of the liberation of the Auschwitz concentration camp, as International Holocaust Remembrance Day. This decision was preceded by intense diplomatic work. The UN in the 21st century fights against any manifestation of xenophobia and intolerance, recognizing the many crimes of the Nazis at the international level, from a legal point of view. Today, the UN is a kind of alliance that prevents any form of religious intolerance, racism, the employees of the organization do everything so that nowadays such tragedies of the past never happen again.
I am sure that education and information activities can play a key role in the prevention of genocide. UNESCO resolutions on preserving the memory of the Holocaust highlight the historical significance of this tragedy and note the importance of teaching about the Holocaust as a contribution to the prevention of genocide and other atrocities. Allow me to add that UNESCO has always fought against anti-Semitism, racism and other forms of prejudice that can lead to violence and genocide.
– What textbooks do the students of the International Center for Research and Education on the History of the Holocaust and Genocide use?
– The training of undergraduate students at the International Scientific and Educational Center on the Holocaust and Genocide at the Russian State Humanitarian University required us teachers to create new teaching materials. Together with Professor BL Khavkin we have published a book on the Holocaust in Germany before World War II. At the beginning of last year, the manual “The History of the Holocaust and Genocides. Twentieth century. Such methodological materials were not previously available in our country and were published with the support of the Russian Jewish Congress (RJC) and the Russian State Humanitarian University, causing several positive reviews in historical journals.
– Ilya Alexandrovich, ending our conversation, I can only ask: how can those who have read this article and want to study the history of the Holocaust and genocides join the program?
– With the support of the leadership of our university – the rector of the Russian State Humanitarian University Alexander Bezborodov and the first vice-rector Olga Pavlenko, we succeeded, as I said earlier, not only in ” restart” the work of the Center, but from the next academic year to obtain five state-funded places at the Faculty of History of the Russian State Humanitarian University, which will undoubtedly increase competition for admission, which previously reached 11 applications for 1 place. We are waiting for talented students on high-demand scientific problems! Entrance exams and an interview will take place in early August 2023. Inquiries by phone 8-916-906-49-98.
