Russian Cultural Anthropology after the Collapse of Communism - 9781138816749

Name: Russian Cultural Anthropology after the Collapse of Communism - 9781138816749
Brand: Taylor & Francis

Taylor & Francis

In Soviet times, anthropologists in the Soviet Union were closely involved in the state\u2019s work of nation building. They helped define official nationalities, and gathered material about traditional customs and suitably heroic folklore, whilst at the same time refraining from work on the reality of contemporary Soviet life. Since the end of the Soviet Union anthropology in Russia has been transformed. International research standards have been adopted, and the focus of research has shifted to include urban culture and difficult subjects, such as xenophobia. However, this transformation has been, and continues to be, controversial, with, for example, strongly contested debates about the relevance of Western anthropology and cultural theory to post-Soviet reality. This book presents an overview of how anthropology in Russia has changed since Soviet times, and showcases examples of important Russian anthropological work. As such, the book will be of great interest not just to Russia.