Les Français ont compris très tôt l’importance de l’image de la France à l’étranger et établi ce que l’on appelle aujourd’hui un modèle français de diplomatie culturelle qu’ils s’attachent à défendre et promouvoir à travers le soft power. La présence, depuis plus d’un siècle, d’un dispositif culturel et diplomatique français financé par l’Etat en Russie, témoigne de la portée stratégique que représente le rayonnement de la France dans ce pays. Mais est-ce que les retombées économiques et politiques sont à la hauteur des moyens investis par la France dans le déploiement de son dispositif culturel et diplomatique en Russie ? Quels sont les effets de l’action française ? Nos travaux de recherche ont consisté à étudier l’évolution de l’action française en Russie, ainsi qu’à examiner, évaluer et mettre en lumière le rôle et les enjeux de la présence française dans ce pays aujourd’hui. Cela a nécessité une compréhension contemporaine, mais aussi historique, des rapports bilatéraux franco-russes et du regard que chacun porte sur l’Autre. Cette thèse présente donc une analyse du dispositif mis en place par la France en Russie et plus particulièrement à Saint-Pétersbourg, ainsi que les enjeux diplomatiques, économiques et stratégiques de l’activisme culturel développé par la France en Russie au tournant du XXIe siècle. Enfin, elle a pour but d’éclairer sur le positionnement de la France aujourd’hui dans la relation Est-Ouest et sur l’état de la relation bilatérale franco-russe. / The French have long understood the importance of France’s image abroad and established what’s called today the French model of cultural diplomacy, which they defend and promote through soft power. For over a century, the French Government has financed the action of multiple players in its cultural and diplomatic outreach in Russia. This speaks to the strategic importance of having France shine in Russia. But do the economic and political repercussions match the resources deployed by France in its cultural and diplomatic activities in Russia ? What are the results of France’s actions ? Our research has studied the evolution of France’s actions in Russia, examined and highlighted the role and parameters of French presence in today’s Russia. This has required a contemporary and historical understanding of the Franco-Russian bilateral relationship and how each regards the Other. This thesis analyzes the resources used by France in Russia, more particularly St. Petersburg, as well as the strategic, economic and diplomatic parameters of France’s cultural activities that it pursued in Russia at the beginning of the 21st century. Finally, it aims to clarify France’s position in the rapport between East and West and the state of the Franco-Russian bilateral relationship

A tese tem como objetivo o estudo do texto da cidade de Moscou, sua análise comparativa e diálogo com o texto de São Petersburgo, bem como a importância de ambos os textos no processo de formação de identidade cultural russa. A metodologia da pesquisa baseia-se no conceito de texto urbano elaborado por destacados estudiosos da escola semiótica de Tártu-Moscou, tais como: Iúri Lótman, Vladimir Toporov, entre outros. O trabalho apresentado é constituído de três partes: No primeiro capítulo é apresentada a análise teórica dos conceitos de texto e cidade e sua aplicação à Moscou; O segundo capítulo representa uma análise histórico-cultural do processo de formação do texto de Moscou desde a fundação da cidade até o século XXI, a reflexão do texto de Moscou na cultura e, principalmente, na literatura russa; A terceira parte é composta por traduções de alguns ensaios de escritores russos do século XIX nos quais foram descritas as relações controversas entre Moscou e São Petersburgo. A conclusão da presente pesquisa consiste na tese de que tanto o texto de Moscou como sua oposição ao texto de São Petersburgo formam-se como resultado da bipolaridade, própria não apenas da cultura russa, como de toda humanidade. / The thesis aims to study the Moscow city text, its comparative analysis and the dialogue with the St. Petersburg text, and the importance of both texts in the process of formation of Russian cultural identity. The survey methodology is based on the concept of urban text drawn up by prominent scholars of Tartu-Moscow Semiotic School, such as Yuri Lotamn, Vladimir Toporov, among others. The work presented is comprised of three parts: The first chapter presents the theoretical analysis of concepts of \"text\" and \"city\" and its application to Moscow; The second chapter represents a cultural-historical analysis of the formation process of the Moscow text since the founding of the city until the 21st century, the reflection of Moscow text in the culture and, mostly in the Russian literature; The third part is composed of translations of some Russian writers´ essays of the 19th century with a description of the controversial relations between Moscow and St. Petersburg. The conclusion of this research consists of the thesis that both Moscow text and its opposition to the St. Petersburg text are formed as a result of a proper bipolarity not only of the Russian culture, but of the whole mankind.

A tese tem como objetivo o estudo do texto da cidade de Moscou, sua análise comparativa e diálogo com o texto de São Petersburgo, bem como a importância de ambos os textos no processo de formação de identidade cultural russa. A metodologia da pesquisa baseia-se no conceito de texto urbano elaborado por destacados estudiosos da escola semiótica de Tártu-Moscou, tais como: Iúri Lótman, Vladimir Toporov, entre outros. O trabalho apresentado é constituído de três partes: No primeiro capítulo é apresentada a análise teórica dos conceitos de texto e cidade e sua aplicação à Moscou; O segundo capítulo representa uma análise histórico-cultural do processo de formação do texto de Moscou desde a fundação da cidade até o século XXI, a reflexão do texto de Moscou na cultura e, principalmente, na literatura russa; A terceira parte é composta por traduções de alguns ensaios de escritores russos do século XIX nos quais foram descritas as relações controversas entre Moscou e São Petersburgo. A conclusão da presente pesquisa consiste na tese de que tanto o texto de Moscou como sua oposição ao texto de São Petersburgo formam-se como resultado da bipolaridade, própria não apenas da cultura russa, como de toda humanidade. / The thesis aims to study the Moscow city text, its comparative analysis and the dialogue with the St. Petersburg text, and the importance of both texts in the process of formation of Russian cultural identity. The survey methodology is based on the concept of urban text drawn up by prominent scholars of Tartu-Moscow Semiotic School, such as Yuri Lotamn, Vladimir Toporov, among others. The work presented is comprised of three parts: The first chapter presents the theoretical analysis of concepts of \"text\" and \"city\" and its application to Moscow; The second chapter represents a cultural-historical analysis of the formation process of the Moscow text since the founding of the city until the 21st century, the reflection of Moscow text in the culture and, mostly in the Russian literature; The third part is composed of translations of some Russian writers´ essays of the 19th century with a description of the controversial relations between Moscow and St. Petersburg. The conclusion of this research consists of the thesis that both Moscow text and its opposition to the St. Petersburg text are formed as a result of a proper bipolarity not only of the Russian culture, but of the whole mankind.

<p>The study’s focus is put on the lowest level of Russian local politics, empirically represented by two municipalities in St Petersburg. It aims at identifying factors that influence the work of municipal councils. Municipal organs are since their establishment in 1998 officially self-governing and responsible for a wide array of activities within their territories. They are perceived as administrative domains in this paper, parts of a hierarchic domain-structure. The municipal domains are both fiscally and politically restricted by upper political levels – mainly the regional authorities – that heavily reduce the capabilities of the municipal councils’ activities. Besides being dependent on resources from the regional and federal level, the municipal councils’ budgets are reliant on taxing of commercial retailing within its boundaries. Joint with the basic social and demographic circumstances of a municipality, this factor is likely to shape the extent of the council’s activity. The field study conducted specifies that while a geographically central municipality is engaged in infrastructure-maintenance and cultural activities, a peripheral ditto is mainly concerned with social help. Deputies in both districts perceive the current prospects of local government as being limited by outer influence, most of the people involved in the councils are unpaid and the resources needed to communicate with the inhabitants do not exist. The general and actual weakness of local governments is mirrored in the public attitudes, influenced by state-controlled media and revealed in participatory election turnouts. The election in December 2004 produced turnouts exceeding the legitimate limit of 20 % in almost all municipalities. However, the figures are to some extent the results of administrative pressure and liberals claim that plain frauds determined many outcomes. Tendencies point towards a politicization of municipal organs, whereas presently many perceive them as simply administrative. The municipal domain is characterized merely by responsibility instead of actual authority, ownership and substantial spatial impact. It is reliant on higher-level domains while competing for resources with neighboring domains.</p>

In this essay we map and evaluate obstacles and problems that can occur during the establishment of international companies in Russia. This is done by investigating Swedish companies, which are established in Moscow and Saint Petersburg. We used secondary and primary data from books, previous surveys, reports, articles and the Internet. We also interviewed the following companies: Alfa Laval, Kockum Sonics AB, Höganäs Keramik, Skanska, Assa Abloy, Advakom, AnoxKaldnes, Lindab, Delovoj Peterburg, HL-Display and also a journalist from the Swedish Radio. Most of the problems named by the interviewees were similar, but some differences were also found. The differences were primarily found in the ranking of importance between the different problems. As a conclusion we can say that the most important factors were: · crime such as bribery · administrative problems such as licensing · tax laws and political system · culture and language. These problems can however be avoided to some point by hiring Russian consultants to manage the contacts and agreement.

The study’s focus is put on the lowest level of Russian local politics, empirically represented by two municipalities in St Petersburg. It aims at identifying factors that influence the work of municipal councils. Municipal organs are since their establishment in 1998 officially self-governing and responsible for a wide array of activities within their territories. They are perceived as administrative domains in this paper, parts of a hierarchic domain-structure. The municipal domains are both fiscally and politically restricted by upper political levels – mainly the regional authorities – that heavily reduce the capabilities of the municipal councils’ activities. Besides being dependent on resources from the regional and federal level, the municipal councils’ budgets are reliant on taxing of commercial retailing within its boundaries. Joint with the basic social and demographic circumstances of a municipality, this factor is likely to shape the extent of the council’s activity. The field study conducted specifies that while a geographically central municipality is engaged in infrastructure-maintenance and cultural activities, a peripheral ditto is mainly concerned with social help. Deputies in both districts perceive the current prospects of local government as being limited by outer influence, most of the people involved in the councils are unpaid and the resources needed to communicate with the inhabitants do not exist. The general and actual weakness of local governments is mirrored in the public attitudes, influenced by state-controlled media and revealed in participatory election turnouts. The election in December 2004 produced turnouts exceeding the legitimate limit of 20 % in almost all municipalities. However, the figures are to some extent the results of administrative pressure and liberals claim that plain frauds determined many outcomes. Tendencies point towards a politicization of municipal organs, whereas presently many perceive them as simply administrative. The municipal domain is characterized merely by responsibility instead of actual authority, ownership and substantial spatial impact. It is reliant on higher-level domains while competing for resources with neighboring domains.

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La présente thèse porte sur des mobilisations citoyennes qui ont court depuis quelques années à Saint-Pétersbourg, en Russie, contre la densification urbaine. La transformation de l’espace urbain en commodité a entraîné une augmentation fulgurante des constructions et ce, tant dans les périphéries qu’au centre-ville. La redéfinition de l’espace urbain, conséquence de la chute du régime communiste, a provoqué l’érosion d’espaces considérés comme publics et de nombreux espaces verts. De nombreuses voix se sont élevées pour dénoncer ce qui est souvent qualifié de catastrophe pouvant mener à la « disparition » de Saint-Pétersbourg. Je me suis intéressée à trois aspects de la mobilisation citoyenne contre la densification urbaine : 1) l’opposition de résidents à des projets de constructions qui menacent directement leur environnement immédiat; 2) les efforts de certaines organisations citoyennes pour sauver des espaces verts menacés et; 3) la mobilisation provoquée par la démolition du patrimoine historique. J’ai tenté de comprendre pourquoi la lutte contre la densification urbaine constitue la principale cause de mobilisation à Saint-Pétersbourg en ce début de 21e siècle. Je me suis questionnée sur le sens de cette mobilisation et sur les raisons qui poussent des citoyens à se transformer momentanément en activistes. J’ai examiné l’histoire singulière de cette ville et son passé de résistance qui ont contribué à donner naissance à une identité particulière qui a perduré au fil des siècles, malgré les guerres et les bouleversements politiques. L’analyse des récits et des actions des résidents a révélé que la densification urbaine met en lumière plusieurs enjeux qui touchent la société russe contemporaine, comme le fossé grandissant entre les riches et les pauvres et la perte de confiance aux autorités. La densification urbaine représente, pour ses opposants, une perte de qualité de vie. Mais les Pétersbourgeois qui s’unissent pour préserver leur ville craignent aussi que la densification urbaine mène à la disparition de la mémoire et de la culture incarnées par tous ces lieux menacés. En exprimant leur désaccord contre les divers projets qui envahissent la ville, les résidents souhaitent aussi faire entendre leur voix et participer de manière active à l’élaboration d’une vision qui prendrait en compte les intérêts non seulement de la classe dirigeante, mais de l’ensemble de la population. En ce sens, les mobilisations contre la densification urbaine constituent une tentative de (ré)appropriation de la ville, tant sur le plan matériel que symbolique. / This thesis examines the recent mobilization of citizens against urban densification in St-Petersburg, Russia. Urban spaces have undergone major transformations following the collapse of the communist regime. The commercialization of public spaces has caused a huge increase in the number of constructions in St-Petersburg. The redefinition of urban space has led to an erosion of what had been considered public spaces and has greatly affected the city’s green space. In the past few years a great number of voices have been raised to condemn this privatization of public space. In the opinion of many, in-fill construction can lead to a catastrophe: the disappearance of St-Petersburg. I have examined three aspects of this mobilization: 1) the opposition of residents against projects threatening their immediate living space; 2) the efforts displayed by local organizations to save public spaces and; 3) the mobilization against the destruction of historical monuments. My aim was to understand why the battle against urban densification has become the number one cause around which inhabitants of St-Petersburg mobilize today. I have tried to understand the meaning of this mobilization, and looked into the reasons why residents become activists. I have investigated the history of the city and its past tradition of resistance to see if I could find insights into current anti-densification movements. Since its very foundation St-Petersburg has developed its own identity, which has been transmitted from generation to generation and has survived wars, revolutions and political changes. The stories and actions of residents involved in the battle against in-fill construction reveal many issues pertaining to contemporary Russian society, including the growing gap between the wealthy and the rest of the population, and the loss of trust in the political class. From the standpoint of its opponents, urban densification is harmful to the quality of life of residents. But the residents of St-Petersburg who unite to protect their city also fear that urban densification will lead to the vanishing of a memory and a culture held by all these threatened places. By expressing their disagreement concerning construction projects, these residents wish to have their voices heard. They also wish to participate actively in the elaboration of a vision of their city that would take into account the interests of all citizens, not only a select few. In this sense, citizen mobilization against urban densification represents an attempt at (re)appropriating the city, both on a material and symbolic level.

Small businesses, particularly growing small businesses, are regarded by policy makers and academics alike as being important sources of wealth creation, employment generation and innovation. Yet, few small businesses grow. One potential way of explaining why so many businesses do not grow is through the notion of 'barriers'. Previous studies on barriers typically identify and predict what kinds of barriers affect business growth, rather than attempt to explain how or why this is the case, if indeed it is the case at all. This thesis aims to elaborate on our understanding of barriers to small business growth. Two qualitative inductive interview-based studies were conducted in St. Petersburg Russia; the first was conducted in 2003, the second in 2005. Using semi-structured interviews in the second study (the main study), 27 owner-managers of small businesses in Russia were asked if they had intentions to grow the business, how they grew their businesses or intended to do so, and what, if anything, interfered with this process. The purpose of the study was two-fold: first, its purpose was to examine barriers from the perspective of individual owner-managers, with an emphasis on the meaning of barriers and the context in which they are perceived, and second to explore and examine how or the ways in which perceived barriers may influence owner-managers’ growth intentions and behaviours. Data were analysed using template analysis mainly, drawing on interpretive phenomenological analysis and matrix analysis. Based on the accounts of owner-managers, barriers were found to work in different ways to shape intentions to grow or not to grow, and as well to shape intention realization. How this occurred depended partly on owner-managers’ perceptions of the institutional environment. Findings suggest that the relationship between barriers and small business growth is complex. It is, nevertheless, a relationship which purports to be a fruitful area of study, one in which future research might further our understanding of small business growth from a continuing examination of barriers, particularly in relation to intentions, in relation to how meaningful barriers are perceived to be, and in relation to the context in which they are perceived.

I examined the effects of potential predators in relation to habitat selection in Peromyscus leucopus. I also examined habitat selection in three other sympatric species (Blarina brevicauda, Blarina carolinensis, Sorex longirostris). I utilized data fiom 49 sampling sites on National Park Service land; Petersburg National Battlefield Eastern Front Unit (15), Five-Forks Unit (17), Appomattox Court House National Historical Park (15) and Booker T. Washington National Monument (12). Sites were categorized by location (park unit) and habitat type (i.e. bottom-land hardwood), and the microhabitat within each sampling site was characterized by four variables (% cover of grasses, herbs, shrubs, and volume of downed wood). Importance values of tree species within each sampling site were also measured. Peromyscus leucopus, B. brevicauda, B. carolinensis, and S. longirostris were captured in all habitat types. Low capture rates for shrew species and high variability in the abundance of shrew species among all sampling sites were likely responsible for the lack of differences in abundance among habitats (p > 0.05). Peromyscus leucopus represented 76% of the captures among prey species and was the only species to demonstrate differences in relative abundance among habitat types. The relative abundance of P. leucopus was higher in bottom-land hardwood habitat when compared to pine forest plantation habitat (ANOVA, p P. leucopus among these habitat types may be explained by differences in understory structural diversity. Furthermore, the corresponding increase in the relative abundance of Procyon lotor (the most abundant predator during the study) in structurally heterogeneous habitat (bottom-land hardwood) suggests the importance of anti-predator behaviors within these habitat types. Ultimately, this may suggest that prey cannot escape the presence or calculate the abundance of predators and instead simply avoid dangerous habitats. Although the relative abundance of the most abundant predator (P. lotor) and prey (P. leucopus) species were positively associated within certain habitat types, a negative association between predator and prey species abundance was evident within parks. In the Eastern Front unit the relative abundance of prey (P. leucopus, S. longirostris) was lower in comparison to the Five-Forks unit while the abundance of P. lotor was higher (ANOVA, p P. lotor, Didelphis virginiana, and Urocyon cinereoargenteus were higher in the Eastern Front unit when compared to the Five-Forks unit. It appeared that the lethal effects of predators are evident at larger scales (within parks) despite the anti-predator behaviors of prey at smaller scales (within microhabitats). My results indicate that at larger scales (within parks) the lethal effects (removal of prey) of abundant predators may overwhelm the non-lethal effects (anti-predator behavior) exhibited by prey at smaller scales, especially in areas where structurally heterogenous habitats are lacking.