From Local Initiatives to Global Dialogue: Expertise from the Miklouho-Maclay Foundation

Within Russia’s cultural policy today, considerable importance attaches to preserving historical memory as the foundation of national and civic identity, to continuity between generations, and to the country’s cultural sovereignty. A key mechanism for achieving this is the study and promotion of Russia’s historical and cultural heritage within the context of world culture.
The lecture will examine the projects of the Miklouho-Maclay Foundation, whose priority is to preserve the scientific and humanistic legacy of the outstanding Russian scholar Nikolai Miklouho-Maclay, the 180th anniversary of whose birth will be marked in 2026. By examining the projects, the lecture will explore the role of informal channels of communication and the experience of building links between science and society, developing intercultural dialogue and shaping a positive image of Russia in the world. It will also consider the potential of scientific and cultural heritage as a resource of trust and dialogue that can help address foreign policy objectives and convey Russia’s interests through neutral formats.
The lecture will present an analysis of the humanitarian projects carried out by the Miklouho-Maclay Foundation in partnership with scholars of the Russian Academy of Sciences and figures from the cultural world, drawing on the historical experience of Miklouho-Maclay’s work as an intermediary in the nineteenth century, and will consider the effectiveness of cooperation between the state, business, and the non-profit sector in the field of cultural heritage.