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

Front Cover
George McKay
Peter Lang, 2009 - Religion - 441 pages
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.
 

Contents

INTRODUCTION
3
CHAPTER
15
CHAPTER
33
CHAPTER THREE
61
CHAPTER FOUR
87
CHAPTER FIVE
111
CHAPTER
125
CHAPTER SEVEN
141
INTRODUCTION
211
CHAPTER
227
CHAPTER ELEVEN
253
CHAPTER TWELVE
305
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
339
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
365
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
393
Notes on Contributors
421

CHAPTER EIGHT
165
CHAPTER NINE
187

Common terms and phrases

Bibliographic information