Subcultures and New Religious Movements in Russia and East-Central Europe

The collapse of communism has opened up Russia and East-Central Europe to outside influences and enabled new lifestyle choices and forms of religious expression. Based on extensive ethnographic research, this collection uses a variety of theoretical perspectives and methodologies to examine some of the many subcultures and new religious movements that have emerged as part of this process, from members of utopian eco-communities, native-language hip-hoppers and nationalistic skinheads to various forms of Indian-inspired spirituality, neo-paganism and theosophy. Whether they reflect a growing sense of national or ethnic identity, the influence of globalization or a combination of the two, such groups highlight the challenge of creating a free, open and tolerant society in both Russia and new or prospective EU member states. The book seeks to contribute to academic and policy debates in this area by increasing understanding of the groups in question.
The studies in this collection present selected findings from the three-year EU-funded project 'Society and Lifestyles: Towards Enhancing Social Harmonization through Knowledge of Subcultural Communities' (2006-2008), which included partners from a wide range of post-communist countries in Eastern Europe and from the UK.

Autorentext

The Editors: George McKay is Professor of Cultural Studies at the University of Salford. He has written or edited many books on popular music, and the cultural politics of alternative lifestyles. He is also co-editor of Social Movement Studies: Journal of Social, Cultural and Political Protest.
Christopher Williams is Professor of Contemporary History at the University of Central Lancashire. He is a member of the Russian Academy of Political Science and was Secretary of the British Association for Slavonic and East European Studies from 1998 to 2001.
Michael Goddard is a Lecturer in Media Studies at the University of Salford. His current research centres on East European cinema, visual culture and popular culture, particularly in Poland.
Neil Foxlee is an Honorary Research Fellow in the Department of European Languages and Cultures at Lancaster University. He is a specialist in French intellectual history and the political writings of Albert Camus. He has also worked as a journalist and editor in the field of popular music, including hip-hop, punk, reggae and world music.
Egidija Ramanauskaite is Head of the Centre for Cultural Studies at Vytautas Magnus University, Lithuania, and has worked extensively on youth subcultural topics over the last fifteen years.

Inhalt

Contents: Egidija Ramanauskaite: Preface - George McKay/Michael Goddard: (Post-)subculture Theory, and Practice in East-Central Europe - Alexander Salagaev/Alexander Shashkin/Alexander Makarov/Rustem Safin: From Local to Glocal: The Transformation of Delinquent and Radical Communities in the Tatarstan Republic of Russia - Elena Omel'chenko/Al'bina Garifzianova: Skinheads as Defenders of Russia? Power versus Friendship in Xenophobic Youth Subcultures - Tadas Kavolis: Lithuanian Nationalist Skinhead Subculture: The Features of Identity - Maarja Kobin/Airi-Alina Allaste: Hip-Hop in Rakvere: The Importance of the Local in Global Subculture - Isabela Merila/Michaela Praisler: Textually Constructing Identity and Otherness: Mediating the Romanian Hip-Hop Message - Daniela Sorcaru/Floriana Popescu: On Linguistic Politics: The Stylistic Testimonies of Romanian Hip-Hop - Egidija Ramanauskaite/Rimas VaiSnys: Lessons from a Lithuanian Hippie Paradise Glimpsed through a Keyhole - Radoslav HlúSek: Euro-Indians in the Framework of Slovak Society - Martin Priecko: The Formation of the Zájezovwá Community: Ideals and Reality in a Slovak Eco-Village - Neil Foxlee/Christopher Williams: New Religious Movements in Post-communist Russia and East-Central Europe - a Threat to Stability and National Identity? - Christopher Williams: The Fight for Religious Freedom and Pluralism in Post-communist Russia - Hilary Pilkington/Anton Popov: Understanding Neo-paganism in Russia: Religion? Ideology? Philosophy? Fantasy? - DuSan Deák: Spirituality in the Post-communist Religious Marketplace: Indian-inspired New Religious Movements in Slovakia and their Conceptual Framework - Milda AliSauskiene: Spirituality and Religiosity in the Art of Living Foundation in Lithuania and Denmark: Meanings, Contexts and Relationships - Anita StaSulane/Janis Priede: The Reconfiguration of Values and Beliefs: A Study of Contemporary Theosophy in Latvia - Silvia Letavajová: A Content Analysis of the Representation of Islam and Islamic Culture in the Slovak Media.