Anatoly Torkunov

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Anatoly Torkunov
Born	(1950-08-26) 26 August 1950 (age 71) Moscow, Soviet Union
Nationality	Russian
Alma mater	Moscow State Institute of International Relations
Known for	Diplomat, IR Scholar, Rector of Moscow State Institute of International Relations
Awards
Scientific career
Fields	International relations
Institutions	Moscow State Institute of International Relations

Anatoly Vasilyevich Torkunov (Russian: Анатолий Васильевич Торкунов; born 26 August 1950) is a Soviet and Russian diplomat and international relations scholar.

The rector^[1] of Moscow's State Institute of International Relations, Anatoly Torkunov is a member of the Russian Academy of Sciences and the Collegium of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation. He is the President of MGIMO Endowment Fund.^[2]

He serves as chairman of the United Nations Association of Russia. Since 2017 he a co-president of the Trianon Dialogue, Russian-French civil societies forum.

Anatoly Torkunov is a distinguished Russian Orientalist, expert on international relations, regional subsystems in Asia-Pacific Region and North-Eastern Asia, modern history of Korea, diplomatic history and practice. His research interests are: historical and political factors of foreign policy-making; international conflicts; regional studies.^[3]

Biography[]

Anatoly Torkunov was born on 26 August 1950.

After graduation from MGIMO University (the Moscow State Institute of International Relations) in 1972, Anatoly Torkunov began teaching at the institute, while carrying out post-graduate research related to Africa and Asia. He was awarded the degree of candidate of sciences in history for a PhD thesis on the installation and consolidation of bureaucratic military rule in South Korea in 1977. His administrative career included working on positions of the rector's assistant, dean of the international office, vice-rector for international cooperation. He was in diplomatic service in Pyongyang and Washington.

Upon returning to the Soviet Union he resumed his work at MGIMO, where he was elected dean of the School of international relations (1986), then promoted to the position of the first vice-rector (1989). In 1991 he was granted the title of professor. In 1992 Anatoly Torkunov was elected as rector of MGIMO (re-elected in 1997, 2002, 2007 and 2012). In 1993 he was awarded the rank of Ambassador, in 1995 he received the degree of doctor of political sciences (thesis: "Korean Peninsula Security Challenges: International and intra-Korean aspects").

In 1999 A. Torkunov was elected president of the Russian International Studies Association.

Elected corresponding member of the Russian Academy of Sciences in 2003, he became a full member of the Academy in 2008.

Torkunov holds the diplomatic rank of Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary since 1993.

Current activities[]

Rector of the Moscow State Institute of International Relations (MGIMO),

President of the United Nations Association of Russia,

President of the [Russian International Studies Association,

Chair of the Board of Channel One Russia (2011-2020),

Co-president of the Russian History Society,

Expert at Valdai Discussion Club,^[4]

Expert at World Policy Conference,^[5]

President of the scientific council of the Russian-Polish centre for dialogue and cooperation,

Member of the Board of Trustees of the Russian International Affairs Council,^[6]

Member of the Board of Trustees, Chairman of the Academic Council at Alexander Gorchakov Public Diplomacy Foundation,

Co-chairman of the committee on difficult issues in the history of Russian-Japanese relations,

Member of the Supervisory Board of the Swiss Academy for International Law^[7]

Member of the Board of Directors of the Rosoboronexport State Corporation,

Honorary member of the Russian Academy of Arts.

A. Torkunov was (till 2017) co-chair of the ^[8] together with Poland's former Foreign Minister Adam Daniel Rotfeld

He is a co-president of the Trianon Dialogue civil society forum (established in 2017).

He is also foreign member of Polish Academy of Sciences, honorary citizen of Seoul, honorary doctor of a number of universities.

Research[]

Anatoly Torkunov is the author of more than 150 research papers, including 9 individual monographs. Several of them were published in the United States, China, South Korea, Japan and other countries. Among them are «Mysterious War: Korean Conflict of 1950–1953» (Moscow, 2000; was published in Russian, Korean and Japanese), «The War of Korea: Its Origin, Bloodshed and Conclusion» (Tokyo, 2001). His works made great contribution to historical analysis and Korean studies, research of international relations in Asia-Pacific Region in 1950s and later. He wrote a path breaking in contents and conclusions «History of Korea» (Moscow, 2003, in Russian). In his works Prof. Torkunov developed new conceptual approaches to the settlement of Korean peninsula conflict.

Anatoly Torkunov is co-author and editor of monographs, dedicated to theoretical and methodological issues of international studies («Contemporary International Relations» — 1998, 1999, 2000, 2004, 2012 in Russian; «History of International Relations» (in 3 vol.) — 2012, in Russian; «Foreign Policy of Russia» — 2000, 2013, in Russian; «China in World Politics» — 2001, in Russian, etc.), co-author and editor of the first Russian textbook on «Diplomatic Service» (Moscow, 2002) and the second volume of «History of Russian MFA» (Moscow, 2002). He also chairs an international research project «Gorchakov’s Readings», which is focused on studying diplomatic history and practice. He is the co-editor of a two volumes of "History of International Relations and Russian Foreign Policy in the 20th Century" published by Cambridge Scholars Publishing in 2020.[1]

Anatoly Torkunov participates in several international research projects and is a member of editorial boards of a number of Russian and international academic journals.^[9]

Honours and awards[]

Anatoly Torkunov receives the Order of Merit for the Fatherland from President Vladimir Putin in 2000.

Anatoly Torkunov

The works and services of prof. Torkunov are widely recognized. He has received state awards of Russia, France, Italy, Poland, Republic of Korea, Mongolia, Bulgaria, Vietnam, Kazakhstan, Belarus, Kyrgyzstan. Distinguished Scholar Award (Post-Communist Systems in International Relations Section), International Studies Association, 2018.

• Order of Alexander Nevsky (16 July 2015) – for contribution to the foreign policy of the Russian Federation, merits in scientific and pedagogical activity, training of highly qualified specialists and many years of diligent work
• Order of Merit for the Fatherland
  • 3rd class (14 May 2010) – for outstanding contribution to the implementation of the foreign policy of the Russian Federation and many years of diligent work, achievements in research and the teaching and training of highly qualified personnel
  • 4th class (26 August 2000) – for outstanding contribution to the training of highly qualified specialists and many years of diligent work
• Order of Honour (21 October 2004) – for the great achievements in research and training of highly qualified specialists
• Order of Friendship (6 October 1997) – for outstanding contributions to strengthening the economy, social development and in connection with the 850 year anniversary of the foundation of Moscow
• Bridging International Relations, Area Studies and Diplomacy: Distinguished Scholar Award, International Studies Association, 2018
• Order of Honor (Armenia, 23 October 2015)
• National Order of the Legion of Honour (France, 8 September 2011)
• Order of Merit of the Republic of Poland (Commander with star, Poland, 4 October 2010)
• Order of Friendship, 1st class (2019) and 2nd class (2007)
• Officer of the Order of Academic Palms (France, 2005)
• Order of the Star of Italy (Italy, 2020)
• Order of Merit of the Republic of Hungary
• , 2nd and 3rd classes (Russian Orthodox Church)
• Order of Holy Prince Daniel of Moscow, 3rd class (Russian Orthodox Church)
• Honorary Diploma of the State Duma of the Russian Federation
• Honorary Diploma of the Federation Council of the Russian Federation
• Honorary Diploma of the Government of the Russian Federation - for the great contribution to education and research in the field of diplomacy and modern international relations and for the long-term conscientious work
• Gratitude of the President of the Russian Federation - for the active participation in the social and political life of Russian society

References[]

External links[]

• Anatoly Torkunov's personal website
• Trianon Dialogue, Russian-French civil societies forum, co-chaired by Anatoly Torkunov (French website)
• Polish-Russian Group For Difficult Issues co-Chaired by Rector of the Moscow State Institute of International Relations - Anatoly V. Torkunov and former Poland's Foreign Minister Adam Daniel Rotfeld - 12 April 2011 and 23 February 2011 and 5 April 2010 and 29 January 2009 and 17 June 2008