Role of the Ethnographic Research in Cultural Integration of the Russian Empire during the 19th century

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 17K03166
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: History of Europe and America
• Research Institution: Joetsu University of Education
• Principal Investigator: Shimosato Toshiyuki 上越教育大学, 大学院学校教育研究科, 教授 (80262393)
• Project Period (FY): 2017-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: ロシア / 民族誌学 / 異教 / セクト / 異他者 / アカデミズム / 多民族 / 多宗派

Outline of Final Research Achievements

This study examines 19th-century ethnographic fieldwork conducted within the Russian Empire. By analyzing archival materials from the Russian Geographical Society, its Ethnographic Department, and the Russian Archaeological Society, the research delves into discourses surrounding "sects" (unsanctioned non-traditional religious movements) and "paganism" (pre-Christian beliefs). Interestingly, the study reveals that beyond the empire's official policy of multi-confessional tolerance, the academic community, functioning as a European intellectual body, documented the unsanctioned beliefs of imperial subjects through texts and field studies. This suggests that this scientific community potentially played a role in integrating the empire's diverse religious landscape.

Free Research Field

歴史学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

19世紀の民族誌学という学知の実践的な機能に注目することによって「セクト」「異教」等の「異他者」の表象と実体が、帝国アカデミズムの次元で国内の否定できない実在、「内なる異他者」として学問的に認証され、広義の文化統合の対象として位置づけられていたことを精密に理解することは、現代ロシアの多民族・他宗派の住民の「ロシア連邦」的文化統合のあり方を考察するうえで有益な視座を与えてくれる。