Journal of Iranian Cultural Research

Journal of Iranian Cultural Research

Scientific diplomacy policies of the Russian federation under Western sanctions: A case study of the internationalization policies of scientific journals

Articles in Press

Document Type : Scientific Research Manuscript

Author
Ehsan Rasoulinezhad
Associate Professor, Department of Regional and Global Studies, Faculty of World Studies, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran
10.22035/jicr.2027.3713.3906
Abstract
In recent years, the Russian Federation has pursued extensive policies for the internationalization of its scientific journals through scientific diplomacy. However, geopolitical developments and Western scientific sanctions have imposed serious obstacles on this path. Given the research gap in the systematic analysis of these challenges, the present study aims to examine the policies, measures, and challenges of Russia's scientific diplomacy and to provide lessons for Iran's scientific system. This research was conducted using a qualitative approach with a case study method, and Russian scientific journals were selected as the case study. Data were collected through documentary analysis, including policies of the Russian Ministry of Science and Higher Education, reports from scientometric databases (eLIBRARY.RU and RSCI), resolutions of the Higher Attestation Commission regarding the "White List" of publications, and official statements from international bodies concerning scientific sanctions against Russia. Scientific sanctions have restricted Russian researchers' access to international databases and publications, leading to the gradual removal of some journals from reputable indexes and a decline in cross-border scientific interactions. In response, Russia has partially compensated for these limitations by developing domestic databases and strengthening cooperation with non-Western countries. Scientific diplomacy under sanctions requires a shift in approach from Western-based indexing to multilateral strategies grounded in domestic capacities. The application of findings for Iran includes developing national citation databases, establishing bilateral agreements with non-Western countries, revising evaluation criteria, and investing in open-access journals. The main limitation of this study was restricted access to Russian internal documents, and it is suggested that future research assess the effectiveness of each strategy using mixed methods.

Keywords
scientific diplomacy
scientific visibility
internationalization of scientific journals
Western sanctions
Russian federation
Subjects
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Journal of Iranian Cultural Research

Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript
Available Online from 22 December 2026

  • Receive Date 28 June 2026
  • Revise Date 23 September 2026
  • Accept Date 04 October 2026