<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><p>This study, based on archive document research and analysis of publications by Latvian Soviet Socialist Republic (LSSR) ethnographers, discusses the process of invention and implementation of Socialist traditions and the role of scientists in this. The introduction of Soviet traditions in Latvia did not begin immediately after the Second World War when the communist occupation regime was restored. The occupation regime in the framework of an anti-religious campaign turned to the transformation of traditions that affect individual’s private sphere and relate to church rituals – baptism, confirmation, weddings, funerals, Latvian cemetery festivities – in the second half of 1950s, along with the implementation of revolutionary and labour traditions. In order to achieve the goals set by the Communist Party, a new structure of institutions was formed and specialists from many fields were involved, including ethnographers from the Institute of History at the LSSR Academy of Sciences (hereinafter – LSSR AS). Ethnographers offered recommendations, as well as observed and analysed the process, discussing it in meetings of official commissions and sharing the conclusions in scientific publications, presentations, etc.</p></abstract>

This study, based on archive document research and analysis of publications by Latvian Soviet Socialist Republic (LSSR) ethnographers, discusses the process of invention and implementation of Socialist traditions and the role of scientists in this. The introduction of Soviet traditions in Latvia did not begin immediately after the Second World War when the communist occupation regime was restored. The occupation regime in the framework of an anti-religious campaign turned to the transformation of traditions that affect individual’s private sphere and relate to church rituals – baptism, confirmation, weddings, funerals, Latvian cemetery festivities – in the second half of 1950s, along with the implementation of revolutionary and labour traditions. In order to achieve the goals set by the Communist Party, a new structure of institutions was formed and specialists from many fields were involved, including ethnographers from the Institute of History at the LSSR Academy of Sciences (hereinafter – LSSR AS). Ethnographers offered recommendations, as well as observed and analysed the process, discussing it in meetings of official commissions and sharing the conclusions in scientific publications, presentations, etc.

The Role of Ethnographers in the Invention of Socialist Traditions in the Latvian Soviet Socialist Republic

Journal of Ethnology and Folkloristics

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 License.

This study, based on archive document research and analysis of publications by Latvian Soviet Socialist Republic (LSSR) ethnographers, discusses the process of...

The Role of Ethnographers in the Invention of Socialist Traditions in the Latvian Soviet Socialist Republic

Publié en ligne: 05 déc. 2019

Pages: 33 - 47

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/jef-2019-0012

Mots clés
socialist traditions, ethnographers, soviet culture and lifestyle, tools of influencing society, anti-religious campaign

© 2019 Ilze Boldāne-Zeļenkova, published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 License.

The Role of Ethnographers in the Invention of Socialist Traditions in the Latvian Soviet Socialist Republic

Publié en ligne: 05 déc. 2019

Pages: 33 - 47

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/jef-2019-0012

Mots cléssocialist traditions, ethnographers, soviet culture and lifestyle, tools of influencing society, anti-religious campaign

© 2019 Ilze Boldāne-Zeļenkova, published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 License.

Mots clés
socialist traditions, ethnographers, soviet culture and lifestyle, tools of influencing society, anti-religious campaign