Lev Gudkov
Encyclopedia
Lev Dmitrievich Gudkov ' onMouseout='HidePop("83160")' href="/topics/Moscow">Moscow
) is a Russian sociologist, director of the analytical Levada Center
and editor-in-chief of the journal The Russian Public Opinion Herald.
until 1977. His dissertation concerned the Max Weber's concept of the methodology of social sciences and the German tradition of the understanding sociology. In 1995 Gudkov did his doctor
in philosophy
.
From 1970 to 1973 he worked for the department of methodology of researching social processes at the Russian Academy of Sciences.
In the following four years until 1977, Gudkov was an employee of the department of philosophy and sociology at the Institute for scientific Information on social studies which belongs to the Russian Academy of Sciences.
From 1977 to 1984 he was a senior researcher of the Sociology Department at the Russian State Library
.
Between 1984 and 1986 he worked as one of the leading scientific employees at the Sociology Department of the Design Research Institute (VNIIITE).
In the following two years until 1988, Gudkov was the senior scientific employee of the All-Union book chamber.
In 1988 Gudkov started working for VCIOM
, and became one of the leading scientists of the research center after a short while. Three years later in 1991, Gudkov was made the head of the theory- and later the sociopolitical department of researches at VCIOM.
Gudkov participated in all research projects at VCIOM during the period when the centre was administrated by Yuri Levada
, such as
and the majority of employees to work for Yuri Levada's newly founded Analytical centre (Levada Center
).
After the death of Yuri Levada in 2006, Gudkov was assigned to the post of the director of the Levada Center. He was selected for this position by a unanimous decision of the board of the centre. Since December 2006 Gudkov also works as the editor-in-chief of the magazine The Russian Public Opinion Herald which is regularly published by the Levada Center.
Besides his work at the different institutions, Gudkov also works as a professor. In 1994 he lectured sociology at the Jewish University of Moscow. From 1996 to 2004 and in 2006, he was a lecturer in sociology at the Russian State University for the Humanities
. Additionally from 2005–2007 he gave lecture and seminars on the topic “Russia – a transitional society? - Cultural and institutional factors of socio-political conservatism in post-Soviet Russia” at the department of Political Science at the Moscow School of Social and Economic Sciences.
Moscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
) is a Russian sociologist, director of the analytical Levada Center
Levada Center
Levada Center is a Russian independent, non-governmental polling and sociological research organisation. It is named after its founder, the first Russian professor of sociology Yuri Levada . Levada Center traces back its history to 1987 when VCIOM was founded, originally headed by Academician...
and editor-in-chief of the journal The Russian Public Opinion Herald.
Scientific activity
Gudkov studied journalism, sociology and philology at the Lomonosov Moscow State University and graduated in 1971. He continued his post-graduate studies at the Institute for philosophy of the Russian Academy of SciencesRussian Academy of Sciences
The Russian Academy of Sciences consists of the national academy of Russia and a network of scientific research institutes from across the Russian Federation as well as auxiliary scientific and social units like libraries, publishers and hospitals....
until 1977. His dissertation concerned the Max Weber's concept of the methodology of social sciences and the German tradition of the understanding sociology. In 1995 Gudkov did his doctor
Doctor (title)
Doctor, as a title, originates from the Latin word of the same spelling and meaning. The word is originally an agentive noun of the Latin verb docēre . It has been used as an honored academic title for over a millennium in Europe, where it dates back to the rise of the university. This use spread...
in philosophy
Philosophy
Philosophy is the study of general and fundamental problems, such as those connected with existence, knowledge, values, reason, mind, and language. Philosophy is distinguished from other ways of addressing such problems by its critical, generally systematic approach and its reliance on rational...
.
From 1970 to 1973 he worked for the department of methodology of researching social processes at the Russian Academy of Sciences.
In the following four years until 1977, Gudkov was an employee of the department of philosophy and sociology at the Institute for scientific Information on social studies which belongs to the Russian Academy of Sciences.
From 1977 to 1984 he was a senior researcher of the Sociology Department at the Russian State Library
Russian State Library
The Russian State Library is the national library of Russia, located in Moscow. It is the largest in the country and the third largest in the world for its collection of books . It was named the V. I...
.
Between 1984 and 1986 he worked as one of the leading scientific employees at the Sociology Department of the Design Research Institute (VNIIITE).
In the following two years until 1988, Gudkov was the senior scientific employee of the All-Union book chamber.
In 1988 Gudkov started working for VCIOM
VCIOM
All-Russian Center for the Study of Public Opinion, VTsIOM, [established in 1987; till 1992 – All-Union Center for the Study of Public Opinion] is the oldest polling institution in the post-Soviet space and is one of the leading sociological and market research companies in Russia.-General...
, and became one of the leading scientists of the research center after a short while. Three years later in 1991, Gudkov was made the head of the theory- and later the sociopolitical department of researches at VCIOM.
Gudkov participated in all research projects at VCIOM during the period when the centre was administrated by Yuri Levada
Yuri Levada
Yuri Alexandrovich Levada was a well known Russian sociologist, political scientist and the founder of the Levada Center.-Scientific activity to 1988:In 1952 Levada graduated from the Philosophical faculty of the Moscow State University....
, such as
- “The Soviet person from 1989 to 2003”
- "Bureaucracy"
- “Russian nationalism”
- “Results of a year: The society from 1989 to 2003”
Work at the Levada Center
When in 2003 internal problems appeared at VCIOM, Gudkov left the organization together with Yuri LevadaYuri Levada
Yuri Alexandrovich Levada was a well known Russian sociologist, political scientist and the founder of the Levada Center.-Scientific activity to 1988:In 1952 Levada graduated from the Philosophical faculty of the Moscow State University....
and the majority of employees to work for Yuri Levada's newly founded Analytical centre (Levada Center
Levada Center
Levada Center is a Russian independent, non-governmental polling and sociological research organisation. It is named after its founder, the first Russian professor of sociology Yuri Levada . Levada Center traces back its history to 1987 when VCIOM was founded, originally headed by Academician...
).
After the death of Yuri Levada in 2006, Gudkov was assigned to the post of the director of the Levada Center. He was selected for this position by a unanimous decision of the board of the centre. Since December 2006 Gudkov also works as the editor-in-chief of the magazine The Russian Public Opinion Herald which is regularly published by the Levada Center.
Besides his work at the different institutions, Gudkov also works as a professor. In 1994 he lectured sociology at the Jewish University of Moscow. From 1996 to 2004 and in 2006, he was a lecturer in sociology at the Russian State University for the Humanities
Russian State University for the Humanities
The Russian State University for the Humanities , is a university in Moscow, Russia with over 5500 students. It was created in 1991 as the result of the merger of the Moscow Public University and the Moscow State Institute for History and Archives The Russian State University for the Humanities...
. Additionally from 2005–2007 he gave lecture and seminars on the topic “Russia – a transitional society? - Cultural and institutional factors of socio-political conservatism in post-Soviet Russia” at the department of Political Science at the Moscow School of Social and Economic Sciences.
Publications
Gudkov is the author of several books and articles considering the theory and methodology of sociology, sociology of literature, ethnonational relations and social problems of the Post-Soviet society, including:- Lev Gudkov. Metafora i ratsionalnost' v perspektive socialnoi epistemologii. Moscow, 1994 (Metapher and rationality as the problem for social epistemology ).
- Lev Gudkov, Boris Dubin. Intelligentsia. Moscow-Kharkov, 1995
- Lev Gudkov, Boris Dubin. Literatura kak socialnyi institut. Moscow (Literature as social institute) Moscow, NLO, 1995
- Gudkov, L. and Levinson, A. Attitudes Toward Jews in the Soviet Union: Public Opinion in Ten Republics. New York: American Jewish Committee, 1993
- Gudkov, L. and Levinson, A. Attitudes toward Jews in the Commonwealth of Intependent States. New York: American Jewish Committee, 1994
- Prostoi sovetskii chelovek: Opyt socialnogo portreta na rubezhe 1990 godov. Moskva, 1993 (in co-auth. with Yu.Lewada, B.Dubin, A.Levinson and N.Zorkaja): (German translation: Die Sowjetmenschen: Soziogramm eines Zerfalls, 1989-1991. B., Argon, 1992.)
- Gudkov L, Dubin B. Obtschestvennyi dogovor v Rossii (Social contract in Russia). Sociological survey. Moscow, 2001.,
- “Russia — A Society in Transition? ”. Telos 120 (Summer 2001). New York: Telos Press.
- La Russia postcomunista. Da Gorbaciov a Putin. Luiss University Press, 2005, 181 p.
- Gudkov L., Dubin B., Lewada Yu. Problema elity v sovremennoi Rossii (Problem of Elites in contemporary Russia), Moscow, 2007
External links
- The Accidental Russiphile — an interview of Lev Gudkov to the Novye Izvestia (In English) August 2007
- Lev Gudkov at Pipl Profile — bibliography and facts about Lev Gudkov
- Lev Gudkov at Eurozine — Author's page at EurozineEurozineEurozine is a network of European cultural magazines based in Vienna, linking up more than 70 partner magazines and institutions from 34 European countries...
- Presidential Election: The Russian attitudes and the opportunities to make a choice by Lev Gudkov and Boris DubinBoris DubinBoris Vladimirovich Dubin is a Russian sociologist, and a translator for English, French, Spanish, Latin American and Polish literature. Dubin is the head of department of sociopolitical researches at the Levada Center and the assistant to Lev Gudkov, editor-in-chief of the sociological journal...