Ebook: Ethnopolitical Landscape of Arkhangelsk Governorate at the turn of the century: the end of XIX – the beginning of XX centuries

This article is based of analysis an extensive array of historical documents, scientific literature and journalism, in particular the diocesan press of the XIX - early XX century, on the assessment of the ethnopolitical landscape of the Arkhangelsk province at the turn of the century.The authors focus their attention on the historical, social, religious and legal prerequisites for the formation of the ethnopolitical landscape of the Arkhangelsk Governorate, which was home to four imperial “inorodtsy” ethnic groups: the Saami, the Karelians, the Nenets and the Komi.The authors, on the basis of the official press of the local diocese, represent the theoretical concept of the involvement of “inorodtsy” in the general socio-cultural and internal political space of the Empire. The article analyzes the way of life of the indigenous population, mode of life, customs, social stratification, ethnocultural specifics, worldview and religious and other characteristics, as well as interaction with the Russian (Slavic) population, officials and church apparatus. The localization of the research component on one of the largest historical territories of the Russian North and the Russian Arctic makes it possible to examine more narrowly and in detail the provincial ethno-cultural specifics. The retrospective analysis allows looking at the ethnopolitics of modern Russia taking into account regional specialization.The ethno-cultural issues considered in the article are of fundamental importance in connection with the socio-political and historical-legal discussion on the issue of the cultural collective rights of small ethnic groups: indigenous peoples and national minorities.Particular attention is paid to the historical experience of the work of the Orthodox clergy to “incorporate” local ethnic groups into the all-Russian spiritual space in order to promote the territorial and cultural unity of Imperial Russia.