HSE Researchers Undertake Unique Scientific Expedition to West Africa
Researchers from the HSE Faculty of Social Sciences will study social processes in African countries, the issues and features of the continent’s demographic development, and problems related to the causes of separatism and decentralisation in particular African states during a multi-day scientific expedition that will be launched in June 2023.
The researchers will conduct sociological studies into various social groups in two countries: Ghana and Liberia. Leonid Isaev, Deputy Director of the Centre for Stability and Risk Analysis at the Faculty of Social Sciences, explains that they will use all the tools of modern sociology in their work: interviewing, questionnaires, expert surveys, content analysis of social network accounts and many others. He adds that to ensure representativeness, the expedition participants will communicate with hundreds of people representing various social groups in Ghana and Liberia. The work will include field research both in urban and rural areas in the two countries.
HSE scientists explain that their interest in Ghana and Liberia lies in the ethnic, linguistic and religious diversity of the population of these countries.
Leonid Isaev, Deputy Director of the Centre for Stability and Risk Analysis
‘Understanding global processes and prospects is impossible without immersion in really large volumes of sociological data and without its qualitative analysis. Africa is one of the most promising regions in terms of economic development today. Russia, like other countries, is actively increasing cooperation with the countries of the continent. In addition, I would like to highlight the growing political influence of Ghana both among African states and at the global level. I am sure that the results of our research will interest scientists, entrepreneurs, and political experts.’