Ethnography and Anthropology at Saint Petersburg State University: Past and Present

Abstract

The article is dedicated to historical development issues of the ethnographic and anthropologic school of thought at the Saint Petersburg State University since the 18th century up to the present. It gradually highlights importance of early ethnographic reports made by prominent University scholars, such as G. Miller, S. Krasheninnikov, I. Lepekhin and others. The authors pay special attention to the role and effect of the Russian Geographical Society, founded in the mid-19th century, on new research topics within the university. In the 19th century, the Saint Petersburg University introduced physical anthropology as a new field of study, with E. Petri playing a key role in its systematic teaching. When in 1925 the Faculty of Geography was opened at Leningrad State University, it took teaching and research in ethnography to a new level. By mid-20th century, the study of ethnography became an integral element in the curriculum of Philological and Oriental faculties. The post-war period witnesses the opening of the Ethnography Department within the Faculty of History. By now, over half a century later, we can trace a large expansion of field research locations, development of new approaches to theoretical scientific issues of ethnography and anthropology, emergence of essentially new research fields such as ethnological examination, social and philosophical anthropology, ethnopolitical science, study of migration processes and multi-ethnic societies. The University’s commitment to principles of resource openness and interdisciplinary cooperation made it possible to launch new project formats (studies) and integrate ethnographic and anthropological research outcomes into scientific studies in biology, genetics, geography and subsurface management.

Keywords:

school of thought, ethnography, anthropology, Saint Petersburg University