Discussion
In the post-Soviet period, Siberian shamanism has often been interpreted as a vehicle for decolonisation and ethnocultural revival. Emerging from decades of suppression, shamanic leaders initially positioned themselves as defenders of Indigenous rights, cultural continuity, and ecological knowledge. However, in the current political climate, these same leaders increasingly articulate their authority in alignment with state power, invoking shamanism as part of the Kremlin’s “Russian World” agenda. This paper asks whether contemporary shamanism in Siberia operates as a decolonising force or whether it has become a mechanism of recolonisation under the banner of Russian nationalism.
Drawing on 32 ethnographic interviews with shamans in Buryatia, Tuva, Khakassia, and St. Petersburg (2019–2023), alongside discourse analysis of media and organisational statements, I trace how narratives of power and legitimacy are being reshaped. While the spiritual foundations of shamanism—its cosmologies, ritual practices, and notions of ancestral continuity—remain intact, their mobilisation has shifted. Shamanic leaders frame their authority not only as guardians of Indigenous traditions but also as defenders of the Russian state, legitimising war, territorial expansion, and cultural unification. I argue that this transformation demonstrates the ambivalence of shamanic power in contemporary Russia: it simultaneously preserves Indigenous worldviews and legitimises imperial politics. By analysing how shamanic authority is claimed, contested, and instrumentalised, the paper contributes to broader debates on the intersections of religion, nationalism, and decolonisation in Eurasia.
This case highlights the paradox of shamanism’s role: while often celebrated as a counter-hegemonic tradition, it can also serve as a tool of recolonisation when subsumed under nationalist projects. In doing so, the paper engages directly with ongoing scholarly efforts to decentre and decolonise the study of Russia and Eurasia.
