Anatoly Khazanov
Encyclopedia
Anatoly Khazanov is an anthropologist and historian
.
Born in Moscow
, Khazanov attended Moscow State University
, where he received a B.A.
and M.A.
in 1960. He earned a Ph.D.
degree in 1966 and Dr.Sc. in 1976 from the USSR Academy of Sciences. Since 1990, he has been Professor of the Anthropology Department in the University of Wisconsin, Madison.
Anatoly M. Khazanov started his professional career as an archaeologist specializing in the nomadic cultures of the Early Iron Age
. In the second half of the 1960s he shifted to socio-cultural anthropology. From 1966-1985, his main fields of research were pastoral nomads and the origins of complex societies. His main argument that the nomads were never autarkic and therefore in economic, cultural, and political respects were dependent on their relations with the sedentary world, is shared now by the majority of experts with regard to the emergence of complex societies. On the other hand, Khazanov was trying as much as was possible under Soviet censorship, to demonstrate the fallacy of the Soviet Marxist concept of historical process.
After his emigration in 1985 from the Soviet Union
, Khazanov continued to study extensive and mobile pastoralists, paying particular attention to the deficiences and shortcomings of their modernization
process. He argued that various modernization projects have failed because they did not provide room for the sustained self-development of the pastoralists and denied their participation in decision-making.
Since the beginning of the 1990s, Khazanov has also become known for his contribution to the study of ethnicity and nationalism
, and transitions from communist rule. He was one of the first to argue that in many countries this transition does not guarantee an emergence of liberal democratic order. He also argued that, contrary to widespread opinion, globalization per se is unable to reduce nationalism and ethnic strife, which will remain a salient phenomenon in the foreseeable future.
In the last few years, Khazanov has turned to the anthropology of public monuments and symbols, being particularly interested in their role in defining and redefining national and ethnic identities.
Khazanov has written over 10 books and 200 articles dealing with his research interests, primarily in a Central Asian context. These include Animal Husbandry and Pastoralism in Post-Soviet Central Asia (University of Wisconsin Press, 2001), Nomads and the Outside World (Cambridge University Press, 1984), Soviet Nationality Policy During Perestroika (Delphic Associates, 1991), and After the U.S.S.R.: Ethnicity, Nationalism, and Politics in the Commonwealth of Independent States (University of Wisconsin Press, 1995). Together with Ofer Bar-Yosef, he also co-edited the volume Pastoralism in the Levant: Archaeological Materials in Anthropological Perspectives (Prehistory Press, 1992) Among his more important journal articles is "Muhammad and Jenghiz Khan Compared: The Religious Factor in World Empire-Building" in the 1993 Comparative Studies in Society and History.
Historian
A historian is a person who studies and writes about the past and is regarded as an authority on it. Historians are concerned with the continuous, methodical narrative and research of past events as relating to the human race; as well as the study of all history in time. If the individual is...
.
Born in Moscow
Moscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
, Khazanov attended Moscow State University
Moscow State University
Lomonosov Moscow State University , previously known as Lomonosov University or MSU , is the largest university in Russia. Founded in 1755, it also claims to be one of the oldest university in Russia and to have the tallest educational building in the world. Its current rector is Viktor Sadovnichiy...
, where he received a B.A.
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
and M.A.
Master's degree
A master's is an academic degree granted to individuals who have undergone study demonstrating a mastery or high-order overview of a specific field of study or area of professional practice...
in 1960. He earned a Ph.D.
Doctor of Philosophy
Doctor of Philosophy, abbreviated as Ph.D., PhD, D.Phil., or DPhil , in English-speaking countries, is a postgraduate academic degree awarded by universities...
degree in 1966 and Dr.Sc. in 1976 from the USSR Academy of Sciences. Since 1990, he has been Professor of the Anthropology Department in the University of Wisconsin, Madison.
Anatoly M. Khazanov started his professional career as an archaeologist specializing in the nomadic cultures of the Early Iron Age
Iron Age
The Iron Age is the archaeological period generally occurring after the Bronze Age, marked by the prevalent use of iron. The early period of the age is characterized by the widespread use of iron or steel. The adoption of such material coincided with other changes in society, including differing...
. In the second half of the 1960s he shifted to socio-cultural anthropology. From 1966-1985, his main fields of research were pastoral nomads and the origins of complex societies. His main argument that the nomads were never autarkic and therefore in economic, cultural, and political respects were dependent on their relations with the sedentary world, is shared now by the majority of experts with regard to the emergence of complex societies. On the other hand, Khazanov was trying as much as was possible under Soviet censorship, to demonstrate the fallacy of the Soviet Marxist concept of historical process.
After his emigration in 1985 from the Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
, Khazanov continued to study extensive and mobile pastoralists, paying particular attention to the deficiences and shortcomings of their modernization
Modernization
In the social sciences, modernization or modernisation refers to a model of an evolutionary transition from a 'pre-modern' or 'traditional' to a 'modern' society. The teleology of modernization is described in social evolutionism theories, existing as a template that has been generally followed by...
process. He argued that various modernization projects have failed because they did not provide room for the sustained self-development of the pastoralists and denied their participation in decision-making.
Since the beginning of the 1990s, Khazanov has also become known for his contribution to the study of ethnicity and nationalism
Nationalism
Nationalism is a political ideology that involves a strong identification of a group of individuals with a political entity defined in national terms, i.e. a nation. In the 'modernist' image of the nation, it is nationalism that creates national identity. There are various definitions for what...
, and transitions from communist rule. He was one of the first to argue that in many countries this transition does not guarantee an emergence of liberal democratic order. He also argued that, contrary to widespread opinion, globalization per se is unable to reduce nationalism and ethnic strife, which will remain a salient phenomenon in the foreseeable future.
In the last few years, Khazanov has turned to the anthropology of public monuments and symbols, being particularly interested in their role in defining and redefining national and ethnic identities.
Khazanov has written over 10 books and 200 articles dealing with his research interests, primarily in a Central Asian context. These include Animal Husbandry and Pastoralism in Post-Soviet Central Asia (University of Wisconsin Press, 2001), Nomads and the Outside World (Cambridge University Press, 1984), Soviet Nationality Policy During Perestroika (Delphic Associates, 1991), and After the U.S.S.R.: Ethnicity, Nationalism, and Politics in the Commonwealth of Independent States (University of Wisconsin Press, 1995). Together with Ofer Bar-Yosef, he also co-edited the volume Pastoralism in the Levant: Archaeological Materials in Anthropological Perspectives (Prehistory Press, 1992) Among his more important journal articles is "Muhammad and Jenghiz Khan Compared: The Religious Factor in World Empire-Building" in the 1993 Comparative Studies in Society and History.