240516 VO MM3 Siberia under Putin (2025S)

Siberia makes up three quarters of Russia´s territory, provides even more of its natural resources, and it is of immense strategic importance, as its possession brings Russian troops as well as its scientific and other explorers in close neighborhood not only to the possibly even more recourse-rich Arctic, but also to America, the Pacific Ocean, Japan, Korea, China, Central Asia, and even to space, as the new Russian cosmodrome is also located in Siberia. In addition, and in a respect which also could be seen as beneficial, Siberia´s population groups contribute significantly to Russia´s ethnic and cultural diversity, as about 30 different indigenous groups and a quite large number of immigrant groups make up its population.
The aim of this course is manyfold:
First to outline, discuss and analyze the history until Putin´s takeover of that large and rich cultural diversity of Siberia´s peoples from various disciplines´ viewpoints: ethnohistory, political science, colonial and postcolonial studies, religious studies, cultural studies, and more.
Second to outline, discuss and analyze from various disciplines` viewpoints that large and rich cultural diversity of Siberia´s peoples since Putin´s takeover, and specifically what has changed in their living conditions in those nearly 25 years, including the repercussions of the recent war of Russia against Ukraine.
Third to reflect upon, analyze and ascertain how social anthropological research methods and approaches can contribute to a better understanding of these changes and whether they in any form can be also beneficial for the future of those peoples, both in more years to come under Putin and in the time after Putin.
In all of this the fascinatingly large diversity of Siberia´s peoples´ cultures and ways of living and the great potentials, which lie in this diversity, will be showcased and analyzed to which developments it has contributed in the past and could contribute in the future.
Teaching methods:
While this course is based on lectures, supported by visual aids such as PowerPoint slides, films, videos and photos, students´ participation will nonetheless be encouraged and highly appreciated. They shall prepare for the class sessions by reading the mandatory and, if possible, also recommended literature. Guest lecturers providing expert knowledge on particular Siberian population groups or regions or overarching topics might be invited.