Shamanism, sanity and remoteness in Russia
Anthropology Today April 1, 2020 DOI: 10.1111/1467-8322.12560 (opens in new tab)
Summary
AI-generated from the abstractOnline and local reactions to a Yakut shaman's 2019 protest march to Moscow reveal a deep rift between distant supporters and local observers, rooted in Russia's historical relationship with its own orient. The shaman, Alexandr Gabyshev, aimed to drive President Putin out of the Kremlin. Discourses of support function as a form of 'removal' within the nation state, according to the authors, who draw on Saxer and Andersson's concept. The disjunction, though taking new forms, is grounded in a long history of Russia's complicated relationship with its eastern territories.
Study at a glance
| Characteristics | Historical analysis Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Key finding | Argues that discourses of support for Gabyshev's campaign establish a deep rift between local and distant observers, rooted in Russia's complicated relationship with its own orient. |
Abstract
This article looks at the attempted trek of a ‘warrior shaman’ Alexandr Gabyshev from Yakutsk to Moscow, where his aim was to try to drive ‘the demon’ Putin out of the Kremlin. In particular, it explores Russian online responses to Gabyshev's campaign, as well as local reactions in the region where he was arrested, Buryatia. It is argued that the discourses of support are a sort of ‘removal’ (Saxer & Andersson 2019) within a nation state, establishing a deep rift between the local and distant observers. While it may take new forms, this disjunction is rooted in a long history of Russia's complicated relationship with its own orient.