Main menu / 2026, vol.11, no.1 / Makarova G.I., Gabdrakhmanova G.F.
From L.M. Drobizheva’s ideas to understanding modern ethnosocial reality Makarova G.I., Gabdrakhmanova G.F.
13-26 p. doi.org: https://doi.org/10.22378/he.2026-11-1.13-26 Abstract. The article opens a special issue of the Historical Ethnology journal, dedicated to the work, ideas and approaches of L.M. Drobizheva, an outstanding scholar who is considered one of the founders of Soviet and Russian ethnosociology. Her research, distinguished by the depth of its conceptualization and the impeccability of its methods, laid the foundation for understanding the history of the peoples of the former USSR and contemporary ethnosocial processes from the perspective of ethno-sociological science. The issue begins with a series of memoir papers which highlight various stages and aspects of her academic curriculum vitae and personal biography, her work ethics and humane qualities. It contains articles written by researchers from different regions of the country, which reflect the idea of her personality and legacy by those who worked and studied with her and interacted on various discussion platforms. The authors point out Leokadia Mikhailovna’s sincere dedication to ethno-sociological science, as she was charged with ideas for its development for the benefit of the country, honesty, integrity in upholding a scholarly point of view, and the ability to line-up a team of like-minded researchers behind her. A number of papers are devoted to the importance of developing the theoretical foundations of ethnosociology, further understanding of its subject and methods, and clarifying the conceptual framework. Their authors speak out against the one-sided opposition of primordialism and constructivism/instrumentalism, advocate for special attention to the specifics of using terms in various socio-political, historical and cultural contexts, and the importance of understanding the new agenda of the ethnic field of Russia. Some of the articles present the results of empirical research, in which L.M. Drobizheva’s theoretical, methodological approaches and methodological developments are used to analyze the modern ethnosocial situation and interethnic attitudes. The presented material proves the relevance of the approaches developed by L.M. Drobizheva, for whom the highest value was acquiring the knowledge of social reality with the purpose to improve Russian society. Her honesty, ability to summarize the key aspects of reality and support scholars’ most talented initiatives laid down the traditions that today fruitfully stimulate the search for adequate responses to the new challenges of the time. Keywords: L.M. Drobizheva; ethnosociology; academic school; ethnic identities; civil-state identity; ethnocultural practices; interethnic relations For citation: Makarova G.I., Gabdrakhmanova G.F. (2026) From L.M. Drobizheva’s ideas to understanding modern ethnosocial reality. Istoricheskaya etnologiya [Historical Ethnology]. Vol. 11. No. 1: 13–26. https://doi.org/10.22378/he.2026-11-1.13-26 (In Russ.)
About the authors: Guzel I. Makarova, Doctor Sc. (Sociology), Chief Researcher at the Department of Ethnological Research, Marjani Institute of History of the Tatarstan Academy of Sciences (7 Baturin St., Kazan 420111, Russian Federation); https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3912-0961; e-mail: makarova_guzel@mail.ru
Received 13.01.2026 Revised 27.01.2026 Accepted for publication 02.02.2026 Published Online 02.03.2026 |
Istoricheskaya etnologiya Historical Ethnology
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ISSN 2619-1636
