A new military analytical center has been created at the Faculty of World Economy and World Politics of the National Research University Higher School of Economics (HSE) - the Institute of World Military Economics and Strategy, whose director is retired Admiral Sergei Iosifovich Avakyants, former commander of the Pacific Fleet of the Russian Navy. HSE network resource "HSE.The main thing" published an interview with the director of the Institute of World Military Economics and Strategy.
Sergey Avakyants © Higher School of Economics
The Institute of World Military Economics and Strategy, established at the Faculty of World Economics and World Politics of the Higher School of Economics, will study and analyze the political and economic strategy and functioning of the military-industrial complex of different countries. About the work of the new division of the news service "HSE.The main thing is" I talked with its director, retired Admiral Sergei Iosifovich Avakyants.
- When and who had the idea to create the Institute of World Military Economics and Strategy?
- About a year ago, she was born to Sergey Karaganov, the scientific director of the HSE Faculty of World Economics and World Politics. He has been polishing the idea for some time, and now it is being implemented. The Faculty of World Economics and World Politics supported the idea and did a lot to ensure that the institute opened on time, created all conditions for work, and formed the staff structure of the institute. Now the dean of the faculty, Anastasia Likhacheva, pays great attention to the work of the institute and helps to establish its activities.
- Why, in your opinion, did they decide to create it in the current situation?
- Because Russia, having declared its sovereign rights and chosen the path of independent development, entered into a long period of confrontation with the collective West, led by the United States. We are in a state of global war with the collective West. It goes on in economics, politics, diplomacy and the information sphere. We can say that the movement has begun from the hegemony of one power to a multipolar and just world that will be built, but the creation of such a world will not be fast. The period of its formation will be long. The new situation requires new approaches, a new strategy of political-diplomatic, military-economic and military proper.
- The name of the institute suggests a wide range of research. Which areas will be prioritized?
- I will name four that we consider to be the main ones. The first is a new vision of strategic deterrence and the new role of nuclear weapons as one of the instruments of deterrence.
The second is the impact of prolonged confrontation and military actions on the life of society and the mood in it.
The third is the interaction of Russia with the countries of the world majority in the current international situation, taking into account the trends in the development of international relations.
And finally, the fourth is the analysis of the military-political situation in Central Asia, the problems of relations between the countries of the region, the prospect of solutions to potential conflicts and the role and place of Russia in Central Asia in creating a favorable environment for our country and the states of the region.
- Can you highlight the key topics within the directions now?
- The most important topic is the role of nuclear weapons in strategic deterrence. A more specific topic in the military-economic analysis is the ways to reform and create more effective systems of military-industrial complexes in various countries of the world. It is also important to study the impact of war on the moral and psychological state of society and social institutions. Another important issue that requires detailed study is the creation of effective military and political alliances with the countries of the world majority, and ways to build strategic cooperation with these states.
As for Central Asia, special attention will be paid to studying Russia's role in the region and developing recommendations for establishing mutually beneficial ties and developing military-political cooperation with specific countries in the region - Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Iran, Afghanistan and others.
- Which Russian and foreign research centers' experience in your chosen field is most useful to you?
- There are many centers abroad for the study of the military-industrial complex and global strategies. We are primarily interested in the conclusions of the relevant centers of the USA, China, Great Britain, Germany, France, Turkey, Iran, India, Pakistan, and Japan. In this way, we get certain statistical and analytical material and an idea of the vision of these countries of the existing problems, and this, in turn, allows us to build our own work and draw the right conclusions on how to build relations with a particular state and form our strategy in relation to countries, their coalitions and alliances.
- Which of your Russian and possibly foreign colleagues would you like to establish cooperation with?
- These are primarily the Chinese Foundation for Strategic and International Studies and similar institutes and centers in India, Turkey, Azerbaijan, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Pakistan, and Uzbekistan.
- How do you plan to recruit the staff of the new institute? Will the former military have an advantage?
- Mainly, we would like to involve HSE employees who already work at various faculties in the institute, and we also plan to invite representatives of the academies of the Ministry of Defense (the Academy of the General Staff, the Academy of the Ground Forces, the Military University). We will involve specialists from other universities and research centers to perform specific research tasks.
- Who do you think will be the main consumer of your work?
- If the work is effective and successful, the products we have developed will be in demand in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Defense, and their training centers. We plan to cooperate with Rostec and Rosatom. Any government agency interested in high-quality analytics will be able to receive our intellectual product. We also intend to establish cooperation on a contractual basis with private companies, providing them with corporate expertise and assessing risks in a particular region.
- Is it planned to use scientific work in the educational process of the university and do you plan to involve students in it?
- We are already attracting students from our faculty. Our task is not only to provide certain knowledge and a comprehensive understanding of certain problems of grand strategy and the military economy, but also to form the qualities of a citizen and a patriot.
The center for educational programs has been approved in the staff structure of the institute, which this year will begin to introduce a new specialization for the master's degree and expand the range of courses for the bachelor's degree.
- Which departments of the HSE do you intend to establish the closest contacts with?
- We plan to cooperate with various faculties of the University: social, Economic, Humanities, Faculty of Law, Military Training Center to conduct interdisciplinary research.
- How did you, a career military man, adapt at the university?
- Any military man is taught to adapt to any, even the most extreme situation. The HSE has created an exceptionally favorable working environment, so the adaptation is easy and comfortable, I have no problems in this regard.
- Please tell us a little about yourself, your service in the Navy, can you name your hobby?
- I spent the first 22 years of my life in Sevastopol, where I graduated from the naval college, then served for 25 years on surface ships of the Northern Fleet, including commanding the Marshal Ustinov missile cruiser. During my service, I graduated from the Naval Academy and the General Staff Academy, and since 2007 I served in the Pacific Fleet, which I commanded for 12 years.
Outside of the service, I really like opera, I try to read a lot. Thanks to Valery Gergiev, the stage of the Mariinsky Theatre was created in Vladivostok. I was glad that we were able to find time to join the highest examples of opera and ballet.