Abstract ♦ The article reveals the peculiarities of the formation and development of neo-traditionalism in Central Russia, i.e. in the regions of the Central Federal District. The studied area is characterized by the dominance of the Russian population and can be considered as Russian in the context of socio-cultural foundations.
Neo-traditionalism and related phenomena of archaicism and traditionalisation today are primarily interesting as a society's sociocultural response to the challenges of globalization, modernization and Westernization. This explains the relevance of the study.
Neo-traditionalism represents the process of using traditional cultural norms and values and their adapting to modern conditions. It is this mechanism of adaptation that mainly distinguishes it from traditionalism and not just a reproduction of traditions.
The generalization of certain manifestations of neo-traditionalism in the socio-cultural life of the population in Central Russia makes it possible to distinguish its three forms: the folklore and ethnographic form (associated with the reproduction of the folk traditions of Russian ethnic culture); the military and ethnographic form (activities of organizations involved in the revival of Russian military traditions); the neo-pagan form (the revival, reconstruction, imitation of ancient pagan teachings, spiritual practices in ethnographic movements and pseudo-doctrines).
The conditionally selected forms are interrelated. Some of the organizations are strongly ideologically arranged, others are less strongly. Some of them are more successful in commercial terms, and others are not aimed at making profit. It is important to understand their adaptive function, that of the preservation of people’s ethnic identity in a rapidly changing social life.
Keywords: neo-traditionalism, forms of neo-traditionalism, folklore, war games, neo-paganism, social movements, Central Russia.
Lapshin Vasily Andreevich, Candidate of Science (philosophy), the curator of the Training Room of the Philosophy, Culturology and Politology Department, Moscow University for the Humanities. Postal address: B. 3, 5 Yunosti St., Moscow, Russian Federation, 111395. Tel.: +7 (499) 374-55-11. E-mail:
Socrab@inbox.ru
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