The Tenacity of Ethnicity: A Siberian Saga in Global Perspective

Based on a combination of her personal experiences starting in the 1970-es, information from her local contacts, and exhaustive research into often age-old, obscure Russian sources, the author has produced an excellent account of the events and influences that have shaped the ethnicity of the Khanty, a numerically small Finno-Ugric speaking ethnic group in Western Siberia. I found her detailed description of the history of contact between the Khanty and the ever increasing number of Russians in the area particularly interesting. She successfully avoids generalizations by pointing out how different relationships were/are between natives and Slavic migrants in various regions. There are also plenty of interesting references to the traditional Khanty belief system. Unfortunately the fact that both the author and her major informants are women seems to have limited the extent of insight she could gain in this field - among the Khanty (and the related Mansi) only men are allowed to see certain sacred sites and rituals. While much of the book illustrates how successfully the Northern Khanty have managed to incorporate elements of outside cultures while preserving their own identity, the last chapter, which details worrying developments that have happened since the fall of communism, leaves one wondering quite how much longer this small group can hold out in the face of ever larger encroachment on their traditional homeland and way of life by the powerful petroleum industry in particular.

Marjorie Balzer has produced an outstanding work on the nature of ethnicity, a work with lessons and insights that transcend Siberia and are applicable to cultures worldwide. I cannot say enough good about this book. It's no wonder she's considered by so many to be one of our Nation's leading Siberianists. Bravo, Dr. Balzer.