The history of the magazine originates in informal meetings in which we had the honor to participate in the regions of Russia. In fact, these are meetings of interested people, where complex processes and phenomena taking place in Russia and around Russia were discussed in a free form and in simple terms. Our meetings were attended by students and graduate students, local residents - ordinary people who have nothing to do with science, but who are capable of discussing the problems that concern them no less seriously than scientists and suggesting options for solving them. Young graduate students and students said that it was impossible for them to publish in scientific journals, as journals compete for ratings (and the contribution of a novice scientist to this rating is not yet great). Scientists from the regions complained that few people were interested in their research and how difficult it was to publish in the capital's journals dealing with global issues. Meanwhile, we complained that we did not know the results of regional studies and that we had little empirical material from the regions.

As a result, the idea was born to offer the readership research devoid of bureaucracy and stereotypes, and to create a scientific journal aimed at young researchers and research from the regions. Later, our idea was joined by foreign colleagues who devoted themselves to the study of Russia. And we realized how important for understanding Russia is the mutual exchange of materials and the results of our research.

We thank the Institute of Regional and International Studies, the Committee for the Development of the Far East and the Arctic of the State Duma of the Russian Federation, the administration of the Nenets Autonomous Okrug for the support of this project.