Author:

Vyacheslav V. Volchik, Southern Federal University, Rostov-on-Don, Russia

Elena V. Fursa, Southern Federal University, Rostov-on-Don, Russia

Abstract:

Ideological narratives that exist among Russian scientists may assume a significant role in shaping and implementing public policy. The article aims to provide a qualitative diagnosis and analysis of the ideological attitudes of Russian scientists towards economic growth and development, using the example of five ideal types of ideologies: dirigisme, environmentalism, special path, neoliberalism, and socialism in order to understand the formation of scientific discourse in economic science. The methodological basis of the research consists of narrative economics combined with elements of original institutionalism. The evidence comes from 35 in-depth interviews with Russian researchers in the field of economic science from eight federal districts of Russia conducted in 2025 and was examined using qualitative analysis. The findings of the study show that economic ideology, through widespread theoretical narratives, has a significant impact on the formation and implementation of government policies aimed at economic development and growth. In line with Russian economists, the contemporary trajectory of achieving economic development and growth in Russia is primarily influenced by the ideology of dirigisme. The majority of informants (77.1 %) has a positive attitude towards government intervention in the economy, crisis management, and poverty reduction, as demonstrated in their narratives. In the narratives of scientists (71.4 %), we can also trace the influence of environmentalism, which manifests itself in justifying restrictions on economic growth to protect the environment. Within the context of the neoliberal ideology, Russian economists highly value the importance of economic freedom for economic growth (91.4 %). Nevertheless, most respondents (71.4 %) acknowledge that freedom may be limited by the state. In addition, 40.0 % of scientists endorse socialist ideas related to fighting economic inequality. Russian scientists see the trajectory of future economic development and growth in finding the own path of development, taking into account historical and institutional features, and adapting to modern challenges.

Keywords: dirigisme; environmentalism; neoliberalism; socialism; narrative economics; theoretical narrative.

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For citation: Volchik V. V., Fursa E. V. (2026). The ideological discourse of Russian economists contextualised in economic development and growth issues. Journal of New Economy, vol. 27, no. 1, pp. 28–47. DOI: 10.29141/2658-5081-2026-27-1-2. EDN: ZXKJFD.