Abstract Implementing good practice social impact assessment (SIA) that meets international standards in countries in transition is problematic. We reflect on the challenges faced when undertaking SIA in the Russian Federation. These challenges restrict meaningful SIA processes from being undertaken and limit public participation and the effective community engagement of project-affected local people. Based on the self-reflexive professional experience of two Russian-based social practitioners, and their discursive interactions with two leading academics in environmental and social impact assessment, as well as on in-depth interviews with prominent Russian and international experts, we identified the key challenges that prevent effective SIA from being implemented in Russia: a lack of understanding of the international standards; discrepancy in the determination of the social area of influence between the national requirements and international standards; difficulties in combining national and international impact assessment processes; and a tendency by companies to restrict stakeholder engagement to the minimum. We hope that by having an awareness of these limitations, improvements to SIA practice in Russia and elsewhere will be made.

中文翻译：

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在俄罗斯开展社会影响评估达到国际标准的挑战

摘要 在转型国家实施符合国际标准的良好实践社会影响评估 (SIA) 是有问题的。我们反思了在俄罗斯联邦开展 SIA 时面临的挑战。这些挑战限制了有意义的 SIA 过程的开展，并限制了公众参与和受项目影响的当地人的有效社区参与。基于两位俄罗斯社会从业者的自我反思的专业经验，以及他们与环境和社会影响评估领域两位领先学者的对话互动，以及对俄罗斯和国际知名专家的深入采访，我们确定了关键阻碍有效 SIA 在俄罗斯实施的挑战：缺乏对国际标准的了解；国家要求与国际标准在确定社会影响范围方面存在差异；将国家和国际影响评估过程结合起来的困难；以及公司倾向于将利益相关者的参与限制在最低限度。我们希望通过了解这些限制，可以改进俄罗斯和其他地方的 SIA 实践。