From October 26 to November 18, 2007, a group of Russian social anthropologists-employees of the Institute of Africa of the Russian Academy of Sciences-worked in the United Republic of Tanzania (in the cities of Arusha, Dar es Salaam, Kilwa Masoko, Moshi, on the islands of Zanzibar, Kilwa Kisiwani and Songo Mnara). The expedition was supported by the Russian State Science Foundation (grants 06 - 01 - 02083a and 06 - 01 - 02062a) and the Russian Center for Science and Culture in the United Republic of Tanzania. The expedition included: A. A. Banshchikova, D. M. Bondarenko (head), O. I. Kavykin, A. D. Savateev, as well as T. V. Yevgenieva, A. V. Korotaev and D. A. Khalturina.

Field research was a continuation of the scientific projects "The image of modern Russia in Africa: formation and features" and "Russia and Islam: Civilizational Dialogue", which were developed by the 2006 expedition to the Federal Republic of Nigeria, as well as the 2003 and 2005 expeditions to Tanzania (see, in particular: [Islam-Christian relations..., 2005; Race and interethnic relations..., 2008]).

The development of these projects involves studying the prerequisites for the formation of the image of modern Russia in connection with the history of Soviet - and Russian-African relations and their current state, identifying the characteristic features of this image, prospects and conditions for its positive transformation, including in the context of Islam-Christian relations and globalization processes in the modern world. Within the framework of this project, for the first time in Russian science, the task of systematically studying the holistic image of our country and its citizens in the minds of the entire continent's population was set.

During the fieldwork, a series of interviews (more than 30) was conducted with representatives of the intellectual, cultural, business and political elite of Tanzania - people who are able to shape and change the image of Russia in the minds of a wide range of compatriots. The interviews were conducted according to the same plan as a year ago in Nigeria. The questionnaire consisted of 18 questions; each interview usually took about 40 minutes and was recorded on a voice recorder. A meeting was held with the Ambassador of the Russian Federation to Tanzania and embassy staff, as well as with teachers of the Diplomatic Academy of Tanzania. The study was also discussed with colleagues at the University of Dar es Salaam and the Teachers ' College at the University, as well as during a meeting with UNESCO representatives involved in the archaeological study and restoration of monuments in the country. Informal interviews were recorded with Russians who have long lived in Tanzania and were involved as experts. An archive of photo documents has been compiled.

The first results of processing the information collected in Tanzania generally confirm the results of the previous expedition in Nigeria, an online survey of representatives of African elites, and an analysis of other data. On the one hand, the image of modern Russia in Africa has not been formed primarily due to the insufficiently active informational, economic and political presence of our country on the continent since the second half of the 1980s. On the other hand, post-Soviet Russia has largely inherited the image of the Soviet Union, which many Africans still associate with supporting the struggle of the peoples of Africa against colonialism, neo-colonialism and apartheid. Thus, the materials collected by the project participants show that the majority of Africans are not prejudiced against Russia, and it has opportunities for

developing its image in Africa as a positive one (provided that the specifics of African culture, including political and business culture, are taken into account; in addition, it is necessary to clearly understand that strengthening Russia's position in Africa will require significant capital investments, both public and private; the latter, perhaps, in the first place).

These data allowed the project participants to develop a system of recommendations, the application of which could contribute to a tangible improvement in the image of Russia in the countries of the African continent as a prerequisite for strengthening our country's economic and political ties with them. We are talking about such recommendations as the importance of systematic dissemination of information about life in Russia - economic, political, cultural, religious, including through the re-establishment of a network of cultural centers, the organization of radio broadcasting and the reorganization of television broadcasting to African countries; the need to maintain contacts with Africans-graduates of Soviet and Russian universities and compatriots living in Africa; the importance of strengthening cooperation between scientists and teachers of higher education in Russia and African countries; the absolute need for purposeful formation of a positive image of Russia in Africa and a positive perception of Africa and Africans in Russia, uncompromising struggle against manifestations of racial hostility and xenophobia, which cause great harm to the image of our country, etc.

The next few months will be devoted to processing the collected materials. Since the projects that included the expeditions to Nigeria and Tanzania are designed for three years - up to and including 2008-the scientific conclusions drawn from the program will be supplemented by the results of research in other African countries and in Russia.

list of literature

Islam-Christian relations in modern Tanzania. Edited by A. D. Savateev. Moscow: Institute of Africa, 2005. Race and interethnic relations in modern Tanzania.

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