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I.A. Schemelov

MSHU, Murmansk

LIFE STRATEGIES OF TODAY’S YOUTH IN THE

SOCIOLOGICAL DISCOURSE

Abstract. As the title implies the report describes the main theoretical and con-

МОptuКХ КpprШКМСОs tШ tСО stuНв вШuЧР pОШpХО’s ХТПО strКtОРТОs. It Тs spШФОЧ ТЧ НОtКТХ ШЧ how the most influential sociological theoretists viewed on life strategies and it also dealt with contemporary authors views on that issue.

Key words: youth, life strategies, value orientations.

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A.V. Sheh

MSHU, Murmansk

KOLA PENINSULA IN THE CONTEXT OF SOCIO-ECONOMICAL

CHANGE N THE PERIOD OF PERESTROIKA

Abstract. The residence time in power in the USSR Mikhail Gorbachev (1985–1991 gg.) – Considered one of the most controversial and difficult periods in the history of modern Russia. In the reality of the new political thinking, political pluralism and transparency in historical scholarship appeared new views, allows the different parties consider embody the reform. This article provides a brief analysis of the situation in the Murmansk region in the period of adjustment. Cover the visit of the General Secretary of the CPSU Mikhail Gorbachev in Murmansk fall of 1987.

Key words: CPSU Central Committee, democracy, perestroika, glasnost, political pluralism, socialism, liberalism, security, domestic policy, foreign policy, “Murmansk Initiative”.

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TRADITIONS OF CIVIL SOCIETY: THE ROLE OF THE COUNCIL OF VETERANS OF WAR AND LABOR IN NORTHWEST RUSSIA

Abstract. Long-term empirical study of the organization known as Council of Veterans of War and Labor in Murmansk Region, Northwest Russia reveals the important role that this institution continues to play in local society building and the mechanisms the Council use to participate in and influence local administration. Among such mechanisms, I pay special attention to those relying upon symbolic and social capital, and the ways in which they have developed over the long history of the Council. The bigger question that the paper addresses is how symbolic and social capital operate within civil society in contemporary Russia.

Key words: local society, symbolic and social capital, Murmansk Region, Council of Veterans of War and Labor.

Introduction

As an anthropologist studying traditional reindeer economy in the North

ШП RЮЬЬТК, Цв ПТrЬЭ ‘ЦООЭТЧР’ аТЭС ЭСО CШЮЧМТХ ШП VОЭОrКЧЬ ШП АКr КЧН LКЛШr (ЧШrЦКХХв КЛЛrОЯТКЭОН КЬ ‘ЭСО CШЮЧМТХ ШП VОЭОrКЧЬ’) ЭШШФ ЩХКМО ТЧ ЭСО МШЧЭОбЭ ШП

the crisis experienced by the two reindeer herding cooperatives in Murmansk

Region: SKhPK Tundra in the village of Lovozero, and OPKh Olenevod in

KrКЬЧШЬСМСОХ’О. FШr ЦШrО ЭСКЧ К НОМКНО, ЭСО rОЬТНОЧЭЬ ШП ЭСОЬО ЯТХХКРОЬ СКЯО been worried about the diminishing of their reindeer herds as a result of poaching and other negative influences in a period of economic and social transformation in the country. While many concerned regional and local organizations and individuals were actively discussing the problems of reindeer economy, some of the most active participants were representatives of the Council of the Veterans in Lovozero. Taking part in public meetings with clerks from the regional administration, or with the local community, and sending letters to the authorities on the regional and federal level, were the most obvious instruments available to the organization to make its voice herd and attempt to improve the situation for reindeer husbandry. Coming from a society where many aspects of traditional patriarchal values, including respect toward the older generation, have seriously shifted toward discrimination and disrespect, I was surprised to find that the work of the Council is taken seriously and looked upon positively in the local community. What surprised me even more was its influence not only on public opinion , but on administrative practices and political decisions as well. Using empirical data from long term field research in two communities, the village of Lovozero, and the town of Revda, this paper outlines some important aspects of the work of the Council of Veterans as an institution, and the reasons for the important role they play in Russian society. As a beginning of a

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broader project, this study will employ the concepts of social and symbolic capital as moving forces and sources of empowerment of the Council of Veterans and other similar institutions of civil society in Russia.

Capital: Social and Symbolic

Symbolic capital, a concept introduced in the late-19th century by Thor-

stein Veblen and Marcel Mauss and grounded in Max Weber’s analysis of sta-

ЭЮЬ, ЛОМКЦО ЦШЬЭ ЩrШЦТЧОЧЭ ТЧ PТОrrО BШЮrНТОЮ’Ь аШrФ. SвЦЛШХТМ МКЩТЭКХ ТЬ КЧв property, or capital, including physical, economic, cultural or social, understood

and recognized by social agents who thus attribute value to it. A typical example

ТЬ СШЧШr ТЧ MОНТЭОrrКЧОКЧ ЬШМТОЭТОЬ, ЭСКЭ ОбТЬЭЬ ШЧХв ЭСrШЮРС ТЭЬ rОЩЮЭО, ‘ЭСrШЮРС the representations that others have of it to the extent that they share a set of be-

liefs liable to cause them to perceive and appreciate certain patterns of conduct as hoЧШrКЛХО Шr НТЬСШЧШrКЛХО’ (Bourdieu 1998). The respect for the veterans of

war and labor in Russia fits well into this dimension of the category of symbolic capital. Their high status in society based on their previous deeds on the war and work fronts has been widely recognized and attributed high value, described with qualities like heroism, patriotism, strength of body and will, etc.

Another instance discussed at length by Bourdieu is juridical capital, an objectified and codified form of symbolic capital that legitimizes and helps states exist and exert power over their subjects. Nomination and recognition are processes involved in creating symbolic capital. Signing of a decree of nomination or a certificate (of illness, invalidity etc.) relies on a symbolic capital, based on a network of relations of recognition constitutive of the bureaucratic universe

(Bourdieu 1998). The nomination or the certificate are official acts or discourses which are sвЦЛШХТМКХХв ОППОМЭТЯО ‘ЛОМКЮЬО ЭСОв КrО КММШЦЩХТЬСОН ТЧ К ЬТЭЮКЭТШЧ

of authority by authorized characters, “officials” who are acting ex officio, as

СШХНОrЬ ШП К ПЮЧМЭТШЧ Шr ЩШЬТЭТШЧ КЬЬТРЧОН Лв ЭСО ЬЭКЭО’ (Bourdieu 1998). Thus, by its long term official recognition and public promotion of the councils of veterans in different professions, the Soviet and later the Russian State reinforces the social weight of the organization.

By stating with authority what a being (thing or person) is, according to

its socially legitimate definition, that is, what he or she is authorized to be, what they have a right (and duty) to be (Bourdieu 1998). ‘SвЦЛШХТМ МКЩТЭКХ РКТЧЬ ЯКХЮО

at the cross-section of class and status, where one must not only possess but be able to appropriate objects with a perceived or concrete sense of value. For instance, a work of art hanging in a manor possesses symbolic capital because of the prestige of its environment, which in turn distinguishes the actor who inhab- ТЭЬ ТЭ’ (Bourdieu 1984). In the same way, the councils of veterans utilize the attributes ascribed to them through the public image which the state creates. While in reality their role might be somewhat limited in comparison with their publically promoted representation, the symbolic capital generated through such public image and discourses empower the organization. A membership in it, accordingly, provides a certain role to an individual that brings her/him a social status,

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and certain responsibilities, i.e. rights and obligations. On the other hand, as the section below will argue, the social capital of members of the group of veterans, based on their previous work and social positions, contributes to the reproduction of the importance of the organization in the general society, and the need of the state to gain its support.

Social capital, another term with long history in social science, is again

ЮЬОН СОrО ТЧ ЭСО ЦОКЧТЧР ОХКЛШrКЭОН Лв PТОrrО BШЮrНТОЮ, ХТФО КМЭШrЬ’ МКЩКЛТХТЭв to do things together in social structures that are heterogeneous. In contrast to symbolic capital that has more individual basis, social capital is the sense of trust and cooperation that humans belonging to a group or community share. Throughout his work Bourdieu shows how social capital plays a considerable

role in the transmission and management of economic capital, through alliances,

НвЧКЬЭТОЬ, Шr ЬОХОМЭ МХЮЛЬ; ‘ЭСОв КrО ЭСО ЬТЭОЬ ШП ЭСО КММЮЦЮХКЭТШЧ КЧН ЦКЧКРe- ment of a capital equal to the sum of the capital held by each of their members,

the relationships between the various holders making it possible to mobilize it,

ЩКrЭТКХХв КЭ ХОКЬЭ, ТЧ ПКЯШr ШП ОКМС ШП ЭСОЦ’ (Bourdieu 1998). Thus, he claims, social capital used to produce or reproduce inequality, for instance when people

receive powerful positions or other privileges through their social connections.

SШМТКХ МКЩТЭКХ ТЬ ЭСЮЬ ‘ЭСО КРРrОРКЭО ШП ЭСО КМЭЮКХ Шr ЩШЭОЧЭТКХ rОЬШЮrМОЬ аСТМС

are linked to possession of a durable network of more or less institutionalized rОХКЭТШЧЬСТЩЬ ШП ЦЮЭЮКХ КМqЮКТЧЭКЧМО КЧН rОМШРЧТЭТШЧ’ (Bourdieu 2006).

The sections below will provide a few instances of how symbolic and social capital operate to reinforce the relatively high status and important role which the Council of Veterans continues to play in Russian society of today.

The Council of Veterans as a Traditional Organization.

VОЭОrКЧЬ’ ШrРКЧТгКЭТШЧЬ СКЯО been created throughout the Soviet Union in the mid-1960s as part of the celebration of the 20th anniversary of WWII. Traditionally, organizations gather retired members of certain professions, such as the military, mining, academics, etc. The Councils also have regional character and administrative hierarchical structure, with central, regional, municipal, and vil-

lage units.

IЧ ЬШМТКХТЬЭ ЭТЦОЬ, ЭСО ЯОЭОrКЧЬ’ ШrРКЧТгКЭТШЧЬ аШrФОН ТЧ МХШЬО МШШЩОrКЭТШЧ with the Unions at enterprises, the most prominent unit of self-government and control, together with the Communist Party units. The close entanglement of functions between these organizations in reinforcing state control but also engaging larger number of people in the management process is an evidence for

the significant role and the status of the veterans.

TСО ЬЭКЭО’Ь ОЧРКРОЦОЧЭ ТЧ ЭСО ОЬЭКЛХТЬСЦОЧЭ ШП ЭСО OrРКЧТгКЭТШЧ ШП VОЭОr- ans nation-wide and its active role in economic, but even more in social life

management, are some of the sources of its continuous high status and symbolic

МКЩТЭКХ. IЭЬ ШrТРТЧ ТЧ МОХОЛrКЭТЧР RЮЬЬТК’Ь ЯТМЭШrв ТЧ ААII КЧН ЭСО ТЧТЭТКХ Оn- gagement of the veterans of war in it, are further sources of prestige and symbolic attraction of the organization.

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The Postsoviet Veterans

In contrast to Soviet times, new Russian authorities do not demand coer-

cion of its citizens through the organization from above of units such as the Vet-

ОrКЧЬ’ OrРКЧТгКЭТШЧ Шr ЭСО LКЛШr UЧТШЧЬ. OЧ ЭСО ШЭСОr СКЧН, ЭСО СОrТЭКРО ШП ЬЮМС organizations is strong, and we observe their revival since the 2000s. If the reinvigoration of the Labor Union movement of today is mostly the result of a new generation of citizens, who realize the social need for them, the re-registration of the Council of Veterans in Lovozero Municipality (and Murmansk Region more generally) is only the legal recognition of a tradition that has not been interrupted, but passed down from one cohort of retired employees to the next.

My long term research among the veterans of war and labor in the village

of Lovozero, and recently in the town of Revda, shows that they preserve and

МКrrв ПЮrЭСОr КЧ ЮЧТЧЭОrrЮЩЭОН ЭrКНТЭТШЧ ШП ТЧНТЯТНЮКХЬ’ ТЧЭОrОЬЭ ТЧ ЭСО ЬШМТКХ КЧН economic affairs in the region, and a sense of responsibility to participate in them. The veterans are the people who have spent their career lives in the same branches of the economy and administration of the region, partially in Soviet time, during Perestroika, and some of them in the aftermath. If anyone, they are the people who have knowledge and understanding of the processes going on, of the flaws and the positive tendencies, and of how problems can be solved. This practical knowledge is another source of their symbolic capital in the communities they live in.

Their knowledge and experience, however, creates obligations, as members of the Council in Revda emphasize. Veterans occupy a respected position in

the society and they serve as mediators between the authorities and people – an-

ШЭСОr ЭrКНТЭТШЧ ЭСКЭ ТЬ К СОrТЭКРО ПrШЦ SШЯТОЭ ЭТЦОЬ. ‘PОШЩХО аШuld come and tell

me about their problems. No heating in their house, for example, as it happened

ЭСО ШЭСОr НКв’ К ЦОЦЛОr ШП ЭСО CШЮЧМТХ ТЧ RОЯНК ЭШХН ЦО. IЧ ЬЮМС МКЬОЬ, ЭСО

Council members have to enquire the case, by paying a visit to the local office of the Housing Services Organization, and try to find out if officials work on solving the problem. If clerks in such organizations prove unwilling to carry out their job and refuse to be cooperative, the Veterans can go further and inform the town and municipal administrations. At such levels, many problems are actually solved, veterans report, as long as they are in the authority of the clerks and the necessary material resources are available.

In order to be able to play such mediatory role, the members of the Council need to know how administrative hierarchy and bureaucracy work in Russia, and how to find access to the administrators with the power to solve a problem. Personal contacts and networks with active politicians and officials, which I define as social capital, are an important resource. In this case, I assume veterans who had previously occupied such job positions themselves, are most successful. It is not by chance, too, that they have higher positions and are respected members of the Councils. Just one example is the leader of the Municipal Coun-

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cil of Veterans in Lovozero, who used to be the Head of the Municipality for a few mandates in the late 1990s and early 2000s.

In cases involving decisions at the regional level, like problems related to reindeer herding economy, which I have been studying for almost 15 years now, other methods needed to be employed. On a number of occasions, veterans attended municipal and regional meetings devoted to the reindeer herding economy. Important roles in these debates were played by retired members of the reindeer herding cooperatives, who had internal knowledge of the sector and its problems. A number of strong economic interests interfere with reindeer herding, including recreational hunting, tourism, and mining. These contribute to

poaching, pollution, and other negative influences, threatening to weaken and

ЮХЭТЦКЭОХв НОЬЭrШв rОТЧНООr СЮЬЛКЧНrв ТЧ ЭСО rОРТШЧ. IЧ ЭСТЬ МКЬО, ЭСО ЯОЭОrКЧЬ’ did not have as much weight as in other situations. Nevertheless, the Council continues to take interest in the sector and to support its struggle for survival.

Symbolic capital appears to be the most efficient resource at hand. The

CШЮЧМТХ СКЬ ЛООЧ КМЭТЯОХв ЩЮЛХТЬСТЧР ТЧ ЭСО ХШМКХ ЦОНТК, ЩrШЯТНТЧР ТЧЬТНОrЬ’ ЩОr- spective on reindeer herding issues, directing the public debate in areas that expose the negative attitudes of certain state organizations or the private interests of single state clerks. Another traditional tool at their disposal has been sending letters to the higher authorities, including the president. While it is hard to say to what an extent such methods have directly influenced the politics toward reindeer herding or contributed to its wellbeing, I think that the symbolic capital that

the organization embodies have a limiting effect on politics that do not take into

МШЧЬТНОrКЭТШЧ ХШМКХ ЩОШЩХОЬ’ ТЧЭОrОЬЭ. TСО ЬвЦЛШХТМ МКЩТЭКХ ОЦЛШНТОН Лв ЭСО Шr- ganization, finally, has been acknowledged through its traditional employment in the organization of elections, and most importantly, as an observer at the event.

References

1.Bourdieu, P. Distinction: A social critique of the judgement of taste, Harvard University Press, 1984.

2.Bourdieu, P. Practical reason: On the theory of action, Stanford University Press, 1998.

3.Bourdieu, P. 2006. The forms of capital, 1986.

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