Neighboring through time

The study of the role of memory in the construction of neighborship

Russia and Finland has a territorial issue in the history of their relationships. Due to historical circumstances, some of the border territories on the Russian side are now "homeland" both for the Finnish citizens (ethnic Finns or Karelians), who once lived on these territories, and Russians, currently residing there. This subproject explores the relationships between the present and former residents of these territories or their descendants. Former inhabitants of border areas maintain ties with their home territory – notably, they organize former residents' communities, take trips to their home grounds, communicate with present-day locals and generally take part in the life of the border area. In this case, we encounter a peculiar mode of co-habitation, co-existence of the "former" and the "current" residents, the past and the present.

This relationship is formed through the involvement in the place and participation in its development, and it adds something new, individual, specific to the life of both sides.

What are the formats of cooperation and co-existence of "the former" and "the present"?
How is this partnership beneficial for either side?
How does it influence individual and collective identities and biographies?

These are the questions that we intend to consider in our study.

The sites of the study are Pervomaiskoe, Vyborgsky District of Leningrad Oblast' (former Kivennapa parish) and Sortava and Sortavala District, Karelia. We conduct interviews with the current and former inhabitants (members of associations of fellow countrymen) and carry out participant observation of joint events and happenings.

The subproject develops the analytical metaphor of the 'neighborness through time' and explores its applications not only in border areas but also in other locations where memory and trauma play out as important factors in the construction of neighbor relationships.

Working group: Elena Nikiforova (CISR), Elena Bogdanova (CISR), Ekaterina Melnikova (Institute of anthropology and ethnography Kunstkamera, RAS), Olga Belichenko (Ca'Foscari University, Italy).