Slavic studies in exchange: Austria and Russia in 1849-1939

The project explores intellectual exchange between scholars in the field of Slavic studies in Austria and Russia, beginning in 1849, when the first Chair for Slavic studies was established at the University of Vienna, until the brink of World War II. We delve deeply into the diverse manifestations of this exchange by analysing the correspondence between Austrian and Russian scholars, which should reveal its meaning for the political, ideological, and scholarly ideas and trends of the two countries. The project aims to highlight the historical aspects of the cultural and political cooperation between Austria and Russia during said time-period, yielding valuable information about academic relations during the imperial, post-imperial, and Soviet totalitarian eras. Our sources have only recently become accessible and they call for Austrian and Russian experts to unite for the first time to explore the cross-border trends of Austrian and Russian scholarly relations.