Ethno review
Publication frequency: 6 issues per year. ISSN 0869-5415. Russian Catalogue Index 70845. The journal is distributed through subscription only.
The journal carries articles and essays in anthropology (primarily sociocultural), ethnology, and ethnography, as well as reviews of important publications in these fields. The editorial board welcomes interdisciplinary materials, such as lying in the border zones of anthropology and history, ethnology and sociology, physical/biological anthropology, and others, but traditionally gives priority to those among them which contribute first of all to the fields of sociocultural anthropology and ethnology. Please visit the Submissions section for more information on the current areas of interest of the journal and general submission guidelines.
Etnograficheskoe obozrenie is a peer-reviewed academic edition adhering to the regulations stipulated by the Russian state tenure committee (VAK) and the standards of international peer-reviewed journals. All submissions that are accepted for consideration undergo the standard double blind peer review procedure and are reviewed for approval by the editorial board. Materials that appear in the journal do not necessarily reflect the opinion of the editorial board.
Media registration certificate: 0110151 dated 04.02.1993
Current Issue
Open Access
Access granted
Subscription Access
No 1 (2026)
Discussion: Cities of the Russian North: An Urbanization Crisis?
Spaces, Symbols, and Identities in Cities of the Russian North
Abstract
This article analyzes anthropologically urbanization processes in the Russian North, cultural specifics of Soviet and post- Soviet northern cities, city images and identities, as well as the ways in which these cities are perceived by their inhabitants themselves. The empirical basis of the analysis consists of field observations, sociological surveys of city residents performed between 2006 and 2023, official statistics, and various publications in mass media and on internet sites of the cities. We argue that the current crisis of Russian northern cities is both social and cultural; overcoming it would most likely require a significant increase in the quality of urban life.
Ethno review. 2026;(1):5-32
5-32
Reflecting on Specificities of Northern Russian Cities
Abstract
The publication is a critical discussion of the article on “Spaces, Symbols, and Identities in Cities of the Russian North” [Prostranstva, simvoly i identichnosti v gorodakh Rossiiskogo Severa] by Y.P. Shabaev and K.V. Istomin who attempt an anthropologic analysis of urbanization processes in northern Russian cities. Drawing on own field observations, sociological surveys of city residents performed between 2006 and 2023, official statistics, and various publications in mass media, the authors examine the cultural specifics of Soviet and post-Soviet northern cities, city images and identities, as well as the ways in which these cities are perceived by their inhabitants themselves. They argue that the current crisis of Russian northern cities is both social and cultural and that overcoming it would most likely require a significant increase in the quality of urban life. The participants in this discussion suggest their own views and takes on the issues raised in the debated article.
Ethno review. 2026;(1):33-74
33-74
Material Culture
Beads Tamasai and Shitoki as a Factor of Ethnic and Cultural Identity of the Ainu People
Abstract
The article examines the Ainu beads tamasai and shitoki as cultural artifacts that help preserve and popularize the ethnic and cultural identity of the people. These ornaments are part of the material and spiritual culture of the Ainu as well as an expression of their religious, ethical, and aesthetic views and social belonging. Their appearance became possible due to cultural and historical ties with the peoples of the Pacific region. Tamasai and shitoki reflected the artistic taste and aesthetic views that influenced the formation of identity of Ainu's traditional arts and crafts. These beads, known among neighboring peoples as "Ainu beads", are today a source of information about the material for, and method of, their manufacturing, the chronological framework, the environment and conditions of their existence. They represent a kind of ethnic marker distinguished by its symbolism and pronounced functional significance.
Ethno review. 2026;(1):153-173
153-173
Decoration of Komi-Permyak Women's Costume (19th to Early 20th Centuries)
Abstract
The article examines the jewelry of Komi-Permyak women of the 19th and early 20th centuries. Drawing on a wide range of materials, I developed a classification and typology of jewelry used in the Solikamsk and Cherdynsk Districts of the Perm Governorate. The main sources for this research were ethnographic collections of the Russian Ethnographic Museum, the Komi-Permyak Museum of Local Lore named after P.I. Subbotin-Permyak, and the Perm Museum of Local Lore. The study presents a detailed analysis of glass negatives and photographs taken during the period by the archaeologist and ethnographer A.F. Teploukhov, the painter and collector V.A. Plotnikov, and the 19th century Perm photographers S.V. Rylov and K.F. Tchaikovsky. Bibliographic sources including pre-revolutionary materials, as well as my own fieldwork data were also utilized in the research which is the first comprehensive study dedicated to Komi-Permyak women's jewelry. Its earliest description can be found in the work of N.A. Rogov on "Materials for Description of Life of Permians", published in 1860. An outstanding contribution to the examination and preservation of ethnic and cultural heritage of the Komi-Permians was made by prominent ethnographers of the 20th and 21st centuries V.N. Belitser and G.N. Chagin. Given the strong interest in restoring the lost aspects of traditional culture nowadays, I believe that the outcome of this research will be of value both in museum and in educational practices and may also be of interest to ethnologists studying the Finno-Ugric peoples of the Cis-Ural region, including university students and museum research staff.
Ethno review. 2026;(1):174-189
174-189
Medical Anthropology
Vegetative-Vascular Dystonia: Medical Legacy of the USSR and the Bodily Archive of the 1990s
Abstract
The article examines vegetative-vascular dystonia (VVD) as a culturally specific syndrome, situating it within the broader context of Soviet medicine, healthcare infrastructure, and the historical era of the late USSR and the 1990s. I analyze the primary reasons for the emergence and prevalence of this distinctly Soviet diagnosis and point to the two key factors in the formation of VVD's understanding: a mode of medical thinking characteristic of the Soviet medicine, and the structure of the Soviet healthcare system which sustained the diagnosis within the practices of physicians, patients, and the bureaucracy. Furthermore, the zeitgeist significantly influenced the prevalence of VVD. The surge in the diagnosis's popularity during the second half of the 1980s is linked to the dominant political and social atmosphere. I argue that VVD may be seen as a direct embodiment of the experience of hardships faced by the majority of Soviet people in the 1980s and, subsequently, the 1990s; therefore, I attempt to interpret VVD as the embodied experience of the Soviet Union's disintegration.
Ethno review. 2026;(1):75-93
75-93
Rituals: Tradition and Modernity
Symbolism of Millet in Karakalpak’s Traditions and Rites: Historical and Ethnographic Aspects
Abstract
This article examines the role of millet in Karakalpak's traditions and rituals, considering its parallels found in the Central Asian region. Millet, as one of the most ancient agricultural crops of the region, occupies a key place in the agricultural practices of the peoples living there. The article argues about the importance of millet not only as a food source but also as a significant cultural element reflecting ancient customs and traditions. Archaeobotanical data indicate that millet's introduction to Central Asia dates back to the late 3rd millennium BC and its spread is linked to the environmental factors and the development of agricultural technologies. We discuss various aspects of millet's use in the Karakalpak life cycle rituals (birth, wedding, funerals), as well as other rites in which this grain plays a major role. We further analyze traditional food practices involving millet- based dishes and practices associated with the celebration of Navruz where millet is specifically used in ritual dishes that emphasize hope for a good harvest and prosperity. We find that millet still retains not only its importance in agricultural production but also its cultural significance in Central Asia, where it continues to be a symbol of connection between generations and between the living and the dead.
Ethno review. 2026;(1):94-111
94-111
On the Fishing Ritual of Olkhon Buryat Fishermen: Drawn on Materials of the S.P. Baldaev Foundation of TsVRK IMBT
Abstract
The article examines the cultural and historical aspects of fishing among the Buryat, drawing on materials collected at the S.P. Baldaev Foundation, particularly on the case of “Sacrifices of Fishermen of the 1st and 2nd Talovsky Uluses of the Shonoev Kin of the Yelantsinsky Non-Native Department of the Verkholensky District” (item 1217, file 36), which were recorded by the famous folklore scholar S.P. Baldaev at the beginning of the 20th century. Our goal is to introduce and explore this rare archival document throwing light on the fishing rites of Olkhon Buryat fishermen of the early 20th century, in order to dive deeper into various features of these rites. We provide a translation of the ritual texts from Buryat to Russian, and employ content analysis methods, as well as methods of social-historical reconstruction that let us better understand and examine the subject. This study is novel and pioneering insofar as S.P. Baldaev’s legacy is still little known and the complete text describing the rites of Buryat fishermen of the Baikal lake has not been scrutinized either in its Buryat or Russian version.
Ethno review. 2026;(1):112-129
112-129
The Wake among the North Caucasus Greeks: Looking for Piety
Abstract
The article examines the transformation ofthe wake traditions among the Greeks ofthe North Caucasus. It is based on the field research conducted in 2022–2024. The wake meal is understood not merely as an act of commemorating the deceased, but as a crucial mechanism for the reproduction of moral norms within the community. I pay special attention to the role of ritual in maintaining the Orthodox Christian identity and connections to the local identity, as reflected in the observance of fasting rules, the preparation of traditional dishes, and the structure of memorial toasts. I further address the tensions between the ideals of ritual austerity and the social expectations of hospitality. My aim is to show how the funeral food and the structure of the feast (a certain set of toasts) become markers of ethnic and religious identity, and how the image of the community is maintained for the outside viewer through the regulation of ritual.
Ethno review. 2026;(1):130-152
130-152
Research Articles
Travelling Characters in America and Eurasia
Abstract
Traditional narratives in which protagonists set off and meet on their way different strange and dangerous creatures are analyzed. Narratives of this type are typical for the New World but are also occasionally found in Europe and the Far East. In narratives based on the "Wanderer" motif, the character accidentally loses his way, encounters and kills various monsters or escapes from them. The world of monsters is opposed to the ordinary world not so much in time as in space. In stories with the "Transformer" motif, the hero moves through familiar terrain, episodes are tied to real toponyms, and the hero easily defeats any opponents and turns monsters into ordinary animals. In Europe, Odysseus and partly Theseus are close to the "Wanderer", and Egori the Brave is a typical "Transformer". The areal distribution of the episodes under consideration, found in the west and east of Eurasia, but not in its central regions, is typical of many Eurasian motifs that have correspondences in the New World. In the Old World, such narratives seem to be relics of the era of peopling of America, so that the oral traditions of the Indians and Eskimos can give some idea of the state of Eurasian traditions at the end of the Pleistocene.
Ethno review. 2026;(1):190-211
190-211
The Sun, Moon, and Stars in Kyrgyz Culture: Myths, Rituals, and Symbols
Abstract
Astronomical views and conceptions passed down through generations provide a valuable key to understanding the culture of any ethnic group. Unlike formal scientific astronomy, folk knowledge constitutes a unique cultural phenomenon, reflecting centuries of human interaction with nature. This article examines the folk astronomical views and conceptions of the Kyrgyz people within the context of their traditional nomadic lifestyle and religious beliefs. The study is based on ethnographic field materials collected by the authors in 2023-2024 across various regions of Kyrgyzstan, with the support of the Russian Science Foundation (project No. 22-18-00529-IT), supplemented by an analysis of scientific and literary sources. The aim of this work is to identify and systematize views and conceptions of the Sun, Moon, and stars, and to analyze their connection to the daily life, ritual practices, and mythological thinking of the Kyrgyz. Documenting this rapidly disappearing knowledge is of particular value. Special attention is given to the analysis of contradictory perceptions of celestial bodies, which reflect the dualistic nature of the Tengrian worldview. In particular, the article explores the combination of the practical application of astronomical knowledge for orientation in time and space with the magical and religious beliefs associated with celestial luminaries.
Ethno review. 2026;(1):212-227
212-227
The Cross-Level Interaction of Language Policy Actors in Present-Day Karelia
Abstract
This article examines language policy in the Republic of Karelia as a complex interplay between top-down and bottom-up initiatives, focusing on the support of Karelian, Veps, and Finnish languages which, despite legislative guarantees, face low proficiency rates and prestige among the population. The study analyzes the role of education, language activism, and ethnic/cultural practices, emphasizing that the implementation of language policy often relies on the enthusiasm of local actors rather than on systemic measures, and that ethnic and cultural orientations of the policy tend to dominate over strictly linguistic ones. We note that the predominance of symbolic and targeted support for languages over their functional use by regional authorities does not hinder the work of language activists and formally sustains the educational infrastructure necessary for training language teachers. The motivations of the activists themselves at the micro-level are diverse and may not align with the dominant language ideologies within the community. The study shows that in Karelia, top-down and bottom-up initiatives do not operate in opposition but rather form a complementary relationship.
Ethno review. 2026;(1):228-248
228-248