Issue #1 (Volume 5 2023-2024)

This paper examines the advantages and disadvantages of imposing sanctions on russian science, along with the measures enacted to penalize or restrict it. Proponents of sanctions argue that accountability is essential, and a tangible cost must be imposed for russia’s actions. Sanctions can serve as a signal to end war and aggression, weaken russia’s economic foundation, and exacerbate brain drain, potentially hindering the development of military technologies and reducing russia’s capacity to sustain its aggression. Furthermore, some russian academics openly support the war and should be held accountable for their stance. However, significant opposition to sanctions exists. A prevailing argument, often mirrored in fields like sports and culture, is that science should remain apolitical. Critics contend that sanctions disrupt the free exchange of ideas, penalize innocent individuals, and may harm global scientific progress and human development, given russia’s integral role in international research. Additionally, sanctions are often criticized as costly and inefficient. Despite these debates, a variety of restrictive measures targeting russian science have been implemented. These include funding cuts, suspension of collaborations, termination of joint projects, and exclusion of academics linked to the russian regime. Other measures involve companies closing R&D facilities in russia, restrictions on scientific equipment and reagents, boycotts of russian-organized conferences, and the suspension of international research partnerships. This study synthesizes the arguments for and against sanctions on russian science and provides an analytical discussion to shape a nuanced perspective on this complex issue.

The 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine has triggered profound economic and energy-related consequences, reshaped global priorities, and exposed systemic vulnerabilities. The current study aimed to examine pre- and post-invasion trends in key economic and energy indicators for a diverse set of countries: Ukraine and Russia as directly involved parties; the European Union, the United States, and the United Kingdom as supporters of Ukraine; and China, India, and Türkiye as neutral actors maintaining economic ties with Russia. Using structural time series analysis over the period 2000–2023, the analysis maps economic booms and busts by identifying cycle deviations through a Hodrick-Prescott filter. The findings reveal significant variations in the conflict’s impact, highlighting disruptions in GDP growth, energy systems, and trade dynamics across regions. The study underscores how the war has accelerated energy transitions, redefined global economic resilience, and reshaped international economic and political relationships.