Belief

Shared narratives are a major part of any identity. Early cultures sought to explain the world around them and their own origins through folklore and mythology. Today, narratives remain strong as a way to convey morality and social mores as well as ways to make sense of an often complicated national past in order to form a cohesive national identity. Both religion and the state exert powerful influence over modern narratives through various education efforts. However, civil society also plays a large role in maintaining and developing narratives, especially as the Internet makes it increasingly common to have the voices of individuals and small groups amplified.

Filter the below articles for: Slavic, Turkic, Caucasian, Baltics, or other cultures.

Sheep Guts Won’t Kill You: A Guide to Seeing the Kyrgyzstan that Most People Don’t

The Kyrgyz are a Turkic people with a rich identity that revolves around their nomadic heritage. Although they were forcibly settled by the Soviets, some have maintained or returned to nomadic traditions. Other strong elements of their culture include faith in Islam that is heavily informed by previous (or present) belief in Tengrism, Zoroastrianism, and […]

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