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Article analysis:

The article titled "Strengthening academic leadership from above: the ‘Renewal’ of Russian university leaders" published in Studies in Higher Education provides an analysis of the recent changes in academic leadership in Russian universities. The authors, Katerina Guba and Daria Gerashchenko, argue that the current reforms are aimed at strengthening academic leadership and improving university performance.

The article begins by acknowledging the support received from various sources, including the European Group of Organizational Study and the Russian Science Foundation. However, it is unclear whether these sources have influenced the authors' perspectives or biases.

The authors provide a detailed account of the recent changes in academic leadership in Russia, highlighting the introduction of new performance indicators and evaluation systems. They argue that these changes are part of a broader trend towards corporatization and marketization of higher education worldwide.

While the article provides valuable insights into the current state of academic leadership in Russia, it suffers from several limitations. Firstly, it presents a one-sided view of the reforms without exploring potential counterarguments or criticisms. For example, there is no discussion on how these changes may affect academic freedom or autonomy.

Secondly, some claims made by the authors lack sufficient evidence to support them. For instance, they claim that "the inability to use formal performance indicators" is a common problem among Russian universities without providing any empirical data to back up this assertion.

Thirdly, there is a promotional tone to some parts of the article. For example, when discussing the benefits of introducing new evaluation systems for academic organizations, they state that "this approach has already shown its effectiveness." Such statements suggest that there may be some bias towards supporting these reforms.

Finally, while possible risks are noted briefly (such as potential negative effects on academic freedom), they are not explored in depth. This lack of consideration for potential drawbacks may lead readers to believe that these reforms are entirely positive without considering their potential downsides.

In conclusion, while the article provides valuable insights into the recent changes in academic leadership in Russia, it suffers from several limitations. These include a one-sided perspective, unsupported claims, promotional content, and a lack of consideration for potential risks. As such, readers should approach this article with caution and consider alternative perspectives before drawing any conclusions.