Creating the Russian Geographical Society through the Lens of Interpersonal Communication: People and Their Apartments

Abstract

This article examines the establishment of the Russian Geographical Society (RGS) through the lens of network analysis. The reconstruction of this process reveals a multifaceted network model that enabled various social groups to create a new intellectual and political institution. This institution was rooted in the paradigm of national development, commonly associated with the Tsar Nicholas I, which emphasized the study of the geography of sovereign space and the “Russian people”. Despite its outward homogeneity, the internal structure of this public institution was composed of heterogeneous elements. Its founders came from diverse social and professional backgrounds and held differing perspectives on the future direction of the RGS. However, they were acutely attuned to prevailing social trends and adeptly adapted to their objectives, recognizing that their primary focus was the geography of the Russian territory and its people. These priorities became central to their collective efforts, uniting them around shared professional interests while diminishing institutional hierarchies and paternalistic structures. In modeling the system surrounding the RGS, we identified event participants as key nodes within this network, with communication revolving around their interactions in the society. All participants operated within their own unique sphere of communication. However, the unifying factor for the RGS was its shift away from academic exclusivity toward broader social engagement. This approach involved actors from various professional fields, each contributing to the shared goal of studying Russia’s geographical space.