Expressions of Intent for International Polar Year 2007-2008 Activities

Expression of Interest Details

PROPOSAL INFORMATION

Vernacular Social Security: Kinship and Para-kinship Supportive Networks in the Russian Sub-Arctic (Comparative Fieldwork Based Program)  (VERSO)

Outline
This research project focuses on how peoples in the Soviet Far North effect intra-community supportive activities which act as spontaneous social security “programs” on a popular (“vernacular”) level. After the demise of Soviet state socialism, former supportive mechanisms were scrapped. Their replacements are felt to be critically insufficient by large masses of the newly impoverished, who consequently have been motivated to develop existing supportive resources. As family and kin are the most prominent in this respect, recent research has emphasized the importance of kinship. While acknowledging the key supportive role of kinship-based links and networks, the present project proposes a deeper and more extensive examination of human networks that realize what may be called vernacular social security micro-programs. We propose to extend the research from kinship to para-kinship supportive forms, i.e. to forms that are not based on biological kinship relations, but are modeled after such. Reindeer herding communities are especially topical in this respect. Formerly, reindeer herding enjoyed considerable subsidizing, one of the highest pays in the Soviet Union, and a whole system of additional benefits. Reindeer herding peoples, on the other hand, have depended in a deep historical perspective on intimate social networks and supportive institutions. For these main reasons we have chosen to study the current dynamics of vernacular social security in a comparative study between three subarctic reindeer herding communities. The main research question posed here derives from a need to problematize current positions in the literature, according to which the liquidation of state socialist supportive institutions has been sought to be compensated primarily through kinship activated networks. To put it more starkly, the thesis “out socialist state, in kinship” we find problematic. We suggest that along with family/kinship-based supportive networks, even greater importance is being placed by actors on para-kinship networks. These networks are seen as dynamic networks of non-kin members, predicated on kinship models, and of much greater efficiency and scope of application than purely kinship-based linkages. The advantages they offer derive from the lack of constraints inherent in kinship. The latter are connected primarily with an immutability of linkage, pre-determined obligations, and highly enhanced social risks. The results from the proposed research program shall elucidate self-help strategies of Russian Arctic communities and thus inform long-term support programs in a more adequate way.

What significant advance(s) in relation to the IPY themes and targets can be anticipated from this project?
VERSO shall contribute significantly to the study of current social problems of indigenous communities in the Russian Far North. It is an attempt to see how such communities are effecting resilience in answer to the impact of significant social and climate change. The understanding of how resilience of subarctic people works in answer to a changing social and natural environment shall help in assisting such vernacular strategies and thus increase co-management effectivity beyond the confines of the targeted field-research area. q2_1_Location : NW Russia, Kola Peninsula (Murmansk Region), Bol’shezemel’skaia tundra (Komi Republic/Nenets Autonomous District/Arkhangel’sk Region)

What international collaboration is involved in this project?
Russia, Germany, Bulgaria.

FIELD ACTIVITY DETAILS

Geographical location(s) for the proposed field activities:
NW Russia, Kola Peninsula (Murmansk Region), Bol’shezemel’skaia tundra (Komi Republic/Nenets Autonomous District/Arkhangel’sk Region)

Approximate timeframe(s) for proposed field activities:
Arctic: 04/2007-07/2008 field research (participant observation)            
Antarctic: n/a

Significant facilities will be required for this project:
VERSO shall be using the facilities of the IFS-Kolm’yavr Project during the first year of field research (see IPY Expression of Intent by the Max Planck Institute for Social Anthropology).

Will the project leave a legacy of infrastructure?
Not directly. VERSO will potentially endorse the work of the IFS-Kolm’yavr field station. The research results of VERSO will contribute valuable data to the potential creation of a World Data Centre on Rangifer (see section on data management).

How is it envisaged that the required logistic support will be secured?
Own support
Other sources of support

Logistic support shall be provided by local municipal administrations, research institutes and NGOs.

Has the project been "endorsed" at a national or international level?
The proposal has been preliminarily submitted to the German IPY Committee on 20 December 2004.

PROJECT MANAGEMENT AND STRUCTURE

Is the project a short-term expansion (over the IPY 2007-2008 timeframe) of an existing plan, programme or initiative or is it a new autonomous proposal?
New

How will the project be organised and managed?
The scientific co-ordinator will organise fieldwork activities, data comparison and evaluation, data management and outreach in consultation with the lead applicant as representative of the host institution, the Max Planck Institute for Social Anthropology. The Administration of the Institute will administer the project budget. Two PhD students will conduct field research (participant observation) among reindeer herders over a period of 12 months (plus 3 months preparatory time). The scientific co-ordinator and the lead applicant will accompany the PhD students for part of the fieldwork period.

What are the initial plans of the project for addressing the education, outreach and communication issues outlined in the Framework document?
VERSO shall (1) encourage the participation of graduate students from regional universities and research centres in research activities; (2) discuss the research agenda with herders and other local stakeholders prior to fieldwork; (3) discuss research findings and present results to them by textual and video-documentary means.

What are the initial plans of the project to address data management issues (as outlined in the Framework document?
Data will be stored at the Max Planck Institute for Social Anthropology; the Kola Science Centre (Russian Academy of Sciences); and the Arctic Centre (University of Lapland) (potentially to be developed as World Data Centre “R” for Rangifer-related research). Researchers will apply “informed consent” policy and guarantee personal data protection.

How is it proposed to fund the project?
The project initiators will apply to the Volkswagen Foundation for financial support.

Is there additional information you wish to provide?
None

PROPOSER DETAILS

Dr Joachim Otto Habeck
Max Planck Institute for Social Anthropology
PO Box 11 03 51
Halle (Saale)
D-06017
Germany

Tel: 0049 345 29 27 216
Mobile: 0049 179 918 4111
Fax: 0049 345 29 27 502
Email:

Other project members and their affiliation