Shamanism: Soviet Studies of Traditional Religion in Siberia and Central Asia
Anthropology of Consciousness March 1, 1993 Peer reviewed DOI: 10.1525/ac.1993.4.1.15
Summary
This edited volume collects Soviet-era scholarship on shamanism in Siberia and Central Asia, examining how traditional religious practices were studied under Soviet ideological frameworks. The book presents ethnographic and historical analyses of shamanic rituals, beliefs, and social roles across various indigenous groups, while also reflecting the political and academic contexts that shaped this research. It offers insights into both the subject of shamanism and the methodological approaches of Soviet ethnography.
Study at a glance
| Design | edited volume |
|---|---|
| Population | indigenous groups in Siberia and Central Asia |
| Key finding | Soviet scholarship on shamanism reveals both the richness of traditional religious practices and the influence of ideological constraints on academic study. |
Abstract
Shamanism: Soviet Studies of Traditional Religion in Siberia and Central Asia. Marjorie M. Balzer. ed. Armonk, NY: M. E. Sharpe, 1990. 195 p. $39.95 (cloth)