Elena V. KHLYSHCHEVA Astrakhan State University named after V.N. Tatishchev
Tatishcheva, 20a, Astrakhan, 414056, Russian Federation
Professor of the Department of Philosophy, Cultural Studies and Sociology
Doctor of Philosophy
Professor
e-mail: culture_mar@mail.ru
ORCID: 0000-0001-6586-019X
Khlyshcheva, E. (2026). The Potential of Cultural Studies as an Integrative Discipline: a Comparative Analysis of the Status of Cultural Studies in Different CountriesAbstract: The article deals with the potential of cultural studies as an integrative humanities discipline through a comparative analysis of its status in several national academic systems. Using undergraduate and graduate curricula, the author analyze the variability of methodological approaches and the influence of external factors—government funding, educational policy, and the demand for applied competencies in the cultural sphere. Using examples from countries with a strong academic tradition in cultural studies and countries where the discipline has been integrated into related programs or supplanted by practice-oriented fields, the author identify three development models: an autonomous discipline, a hybrid model with close ties to the creative sector, and full integration into applied specialties.
The article examines the reasons for the negative attitude toward cultural studies as an academic discipline in Russia. It demonstrates that maintaining disciplinary autonomy combined with the development of interdisciplinary courses and partnerships with cultural institutions provides the best balance between theoretical depth and practical relevance. The article describes the risks of cultural studies "dissolving" into related humanities disciplines, which will lead to a loss of methodological integrity and a decline in analytical potential. The author discusses practical recommendations for strengthening the discipline's status: expanding funding through various channels, integrating cultural studies into the sociocultural core of curricula, strengthening its practical focus through joint programs with cultural and creative institutions, introducing practice-oriented modules and project work, and creating platforms for student collaboration with professional communities.
The article's conclusions emphasize the role of cultural studies as a key tool for developing sustainable cultural strategies for society. With institutional support and an updated methodological arsenal, the discipline is capable of effectively integrating theory and practice and responding to the challenges of the modern world.
Key words: cultural studies, methods, cultural potential, interdisciplinarity, searching culture, cultural practices, cultural projects, status.
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For Citation: Khlyshcheva, E. (2026). The Potential of Cultural Studies as an Integrative Discipline: a Comparative Analysis of the Status of Cultural Studies in Different Countries International Journal of Cultural Research, 1 (62). 51–65. DOI: 10.52173/2079-1100_2026_1_51
DOI: 10.52173/2079-1100_2026_1_51
