The Department of Philosophy and Cultural Studies is practically as old as our university. The department was founded in May 1972 by its organizer, university rector, and first head, Candidate of Philosophical Sciences D.D. Orlov. He established traditions of social-philosophical research, developed original methods for teaching philosophy at the university, and made a significant contribution to introducing students to philosophical knowledge and culture. After D.D. Orlov retired, significant influence on the formation and development of the department was exerted by Associate Professors V.A. Savisko, M.Ts. Shurguchieva, and Professors A.N. Ovshinov and K.A. Nadneeva, who headed the department at different times. Currently, the department is led by Professor, Doctor of Philosophical Sciences V.N. Badmaev.
The history of the department is primarily the history of its staff, who define the philosophical and methodological foundations and the specific content of the educational process and scientific inquiry. Over its long existence, the department's team has included highly qualified specialists in science and education: Candidates of Sciences and Associate Professors K.L. Korneev, T.B. Mandzhiev, N.S. Lidzhiyev, A.A. Sokalsky, G.B. and Yu.B. Abushaevs, A.I. Bardakov, L.V. Kukanova, G.Ch. Salynova, and others.
The Department of Philosophy and Cultural Studies is a university-wide department whose educational and scientific activities cover all bachelor's, master's, and postgraduate programs across all faculties and the Institute of Kalmyk Philology and Oriental Studies.
The main research areas of the department include “Spiritual Culture of the Ethnos,” “National Identity: Discourse and Social Practice,” “Buddhism in Russia and the West,” and “Authentic Culture of Mongolic Peoples.” Several monographic studies and collections of scientific papers have been published in recent years on these topics, including:
- Spiritual Culture of the Ethnos. Collection of scientific articles. Kalmyk State University Publishing House. Elista, 2012.
- Buddhism in Russia and the West: Historical Experience and Contemporary Realities. Collection of scientific articles. Elista: CJSC NPP "Dzhangar," 2012.
- Culture of Mongolic Peoples in the Globalizing Space. Materials of the international conference. Elista: Kalmyk State University Publishing House, 2012.
- Russia-Mongolia: Cultural Identity of Mongolic Peoples. Collection of scientific papers. Elista: CJSC NPP "Dzhangar," 2013.
- Philosophical Problems of Modern Science. Materials of the student scientific conference. Elista, 2013.
- Badmaev V.N., Mandzhiev N.Ts., Ulanov M.S. Spiritual Culture of the Kalmyk Ethnos (An Ethnophilosophical Study). Elista: Kalmyk State University Publishing House, 2012.
- Badmaev V.N. National Identity in the Multicultural Space of Southern Russia. Elista: Kalmyk State University Publishing House, 2012.
- Nadneeva K.A. Buddhist and Secular Ethics: Problems of Worldview Formation. Elista: Kalmyk State University Publishing House, 2013.
- Burinov A.M., Burinova L.D. Constitutional and Legal Foundations of the Formation and Development of Parliamentarism in the Subjects of the Russian Federation. Kalmyk State University Publishing House. Elista, 2013.
- Kaldinova G.P. Gender Differences and Their Influence on the Formation of Modern Enterprise Management Strategies. Kalmyk State University Publishing House. Elista, 2013.
- Ulanov M.S. Buddhism in the West (Sociocultural Analysis). Elista: Kalmyk State University Publishing House, 2014.
- Mongolic Peoples: Culture, Traditions, History. Elista: CJSC NPP "Dzhangar," 2015.
- Badmaev V.N., Kaldinova G.P., Ulanov M.S. Corporate Culture of Kalmyk University. Elista: Kalmyk State University Publishing House, 2015.
- Peoples of Kalmykia in the System of Eurasian Historical and Cultural Values: Past, Present, and Prospects. Editor A.N. Ovshinov. Elista, 2016.
- Ulanov M.S., Badmaev V.N. Buddhism and the Economic Culture of the East (Social-Philosophical Analysis). Elista: Kalmyk State University Publishing House, 2017.
- Cultural Constants of Mongolic Peoples. Materials of the Round Table. Elista: Kalmyk State University Publishing House, 2017.
- Kalmyk Ethnos: Cultural Traditions and Civilizational Challenges. Elista: Kalmyk State University, 2018. 155 p. (co-authored with V.N. Badmaev and Zh. Dolgorsuren).
- Mentality of the Kalmyk Ethnos: Origins, Essence, and Specifics. Monograph. Elista: Kalmyk State University Publishing House, 2019. 177 p. (co-authored with M.S. Ulanov).
- Ulanov M.S., Badmaev V.N. Buddhism in Russian Philosophy: Traditions and Modernity. Monograph. Elista: Kalmyk State University Publishing House, 2019.
The department initiated and organized several international and Russian scientific conferences, including the International Scientific Forum “Culture of Mongolic Peoples in the Globalizing Space” (Elista, 2012); the International Scientific Conference “Cultural Specificity of Mongolic Peoples” (Ulaanbaatar, 2013); the International Scientific and Practical Conference “Human Potential Development as a Priority of State Policy” (Elista, 2013); the International Forum “Buddhism in the Dialogue of Eastern and Western Cultures: Past, Present, and Future” (Elista, 2015); the International Round Table “Cultural Constants of Mongolic Peoples” (Elista, 2017), among others.
In recent years, department staff have received grants from various Russian and international scientific foundations as well as internal Kalmyk State University grants:
- V.N. Badmaev – Project leader of “Ethnophilosophy of the Kalmyks: Experience of Historical and Cultural Research” (internal university grant).
- V.N. Badmaev – Project leader of “The Role of Traditions in the Modern Culture of Mongolic Peoples” (International competition of RHSF – Ministry of Education, Culture, and Science of Mongolia).
- K.A. Nadneeva – Project leader of “Foundations of Buddhism in the Formation of a New Generation” (internal university grant).
- K.A. Nadneeva – Project leader of “Cultural Identity of Mongolic Peoples” (International competition of RHSF – Ministry of Education, Culture, and Science of Mongolia).
- M.S. Ulanov – Project leader of “Buddhism in the Transcultural Space of Southern Russia” (state assignment, Ministry of Education and Science of the Russian Federation).
- M.S. Ulanov – Project leader of “Buddhism in the West (Social-Philosophical Analysis)” (RHSF grant).
- M.S. Ulanov – Project leader of “Buddhism and Economic Culture (Social-Philosophical Analysis)” (RHSF grant).
- G.P. Kaldinova – Project participant in “Changes in Social Identities and Social Structures of Russia and Mongolia under Transformation” (International competition of RHSF – Ministry of Education, Culture, and Science of Mongolia), etc.
- M.S. Ulanov – Project leader of RFBR No. 18-011-00128a “Women in Buddhist Culture: Traditions and Modernity,” 2017–2020.
- V.N. Badmaev – Project leader of RSF No. 19-18-00118 “Russia and the Buddhist World in the Discourse of Philosophical Oriental Studies,” 2019–2021.
The department’s faculty maintains academic and scientific ties with numerous Russian and international universities and research centers, including:
- Institute of Philosophy, Russian Academy of Sciences;
- Moscow State University named after M.V. Lomonosov;
- Saint Petersburg State University;
- Russian Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public Administration;
- Peoples’ Friendship University of Russia;
- Russian State University for the Humanities;
- Southern Federal University;
- Adyghe State University;
- Astrakhan State University;
- Buryat State University;
- Volgograd State University;
- Russian Philosophical Society;
- Al-Farabi Kazakh National University;
- Institute of Philosophy, Mongolian Academy of Sciences;
- Mongolian State University of Culture and Arts.