# Asian and African Socio-Cultural Anthropology (with Additional Asian and African Language Training)

**Source**: https://english.spbu.ru/admission/programms/graduate/asian-and-african-socio-cultural-anthropology-additional-asian-and
**Parent**: https://english.spbu.ru/admission/programms/graduate

58.04.01 
*In Russian*

Level of education Master

Type of instruction Full-time

Duration 2 years

Programme description

- The master's programme ‘Asian and African Sociocultural Anthropology (with Asian and African language tuition)’ is aimed at developing in students understanding of the internal logic underlying the evolution of countries in Asia and Africa. This is achieved by analysing the interaction of ‘tradition’ and ‘innovation’ at various levels of the sociocultural system — including economic, social, political and legal dimensions. The programme also explores the mechanisms of modernisation in these countries, shaped by both internal and external influences, while taking into account recent developments in domestic and international contexts
- The topicality of the programme is determined by: the revival of traditionalism (neo-traditionalism) in Asian/African countries; and the need to study this phenomenon. The programme focuses on the study of economic, social, political, legal and other ‘cultures’, the essence of which in contemporary states of the regions stems from traditions

Main courses

- The classics in Socio-cultural anthropology (Past and Present)
- Fieldwork Methods and Visual Anthropology
- Introduction to Sociology and Sociology of Ethnicity
- Anthropology of Gender
- Political Anthropology
- Migration and Mobility in Anthropology
- The language block of Asian/African languages
- Economic anthropology
- Anthropology of Law
- International relations in sociology and anthropology
- Historical Psychology
- Concepts of Modern Asian and African Studies
- Economics of the East from a Socio-Cultural Anthropological Perspective

##### Elective courses

- Anthropology of Law / Historical Anthropology / Linguistic Anthropology
- Anthropology of Age / Anthropology and Sociology of International Relations

Our advantages

- The programme is designed to train specialists with necessary professional skills (including cultural and language skills), who are ready to conduct research, educational, analytical, translation and organizational activities in the field of culture of Asian and African countries
- The programme aims to develop graduate’s research competencies, which allow to better understand and interpret scientific ideas in various fields of social science, impart professional skills of research, scientific inquiry and skills of working in research team, use gained knowledge in solving of theoretical and applied problems

- Years of experience in teaching oriental languages are combined with the latest teaching methods and technology
- Students have access to: unique electronic resources in Russian, Oriental and Western languages; and the branch of the M Gorky Scientific Library. Its collection includes: more than 300,000 volumes of scientific, educational, fiction and periodical literature in all target languages; a collection of ancient manuscripts and xylographica; and rare and unique books and lithographs

Teaching staff

- Andrei Golovnev, Corresponding Member of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Professor, Doctor of History, Director of Peter the Great Museum of Anthropology and Ethnography (the Kunstkamera) of the Russian Academy of Sciences
- Mikhail Krom, Doctor of History, Professor at the European University at St Petersburg
- Viktor Bocharov, Doctor of History, Professor in the Department of Theory of Social Development of Asian and African Countries at St Petersburg University
- Tatiana Shchepanskaia, Candidate of History, Leading Research Associate at Peter the Great Museum of Anthropology and Ethnography (the Kunstkamera) of the Russian Academy of Sciences
- Maria Stanyukovich, Candidate of History, Leading Research Associate at Peter the Great Museum of Anthropology and Ethnography (the Kunstkamera) of the Russian Academy of Sciences
- Irina Mironenko, Doctor of Psychology, Professor in the Department of General Psychology at the Faculty of Psychology at St Petersburg University
- Sergei Dmitrenko, Associate Professor, Candidate of Philology, Head of the Department of Philology of South-East Asia, Director of the Institute for Linguistic Studies of the Russian Academy of Sciences
- Nikolai Karbainov, Research Associate at the Sociological Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences – Branch of the Federal Centre of Theoretical and Applied Sociology of the Russian Academy of Sciences
- Alexander Kuteynikov, Candidate of Political Science, Associate Professor in the Department of Sociology of Political and Social Processes at St Petersburg University
- Elizaveta Rodionova, Candidate of Sociology, Associate Professor in the Department of Sociology of Culture and Communication
- Ekaterina Smirnova, Candidate of History, Associate Professor in the Department of History of the Far East Countries at St Petersburg University
- Artem Davydov, Candidate of Philology, Associate Professor in the Department of African Studies at St Petersburg University

Main areas of research

Traditionalism evidenced in everyday life of Asian and African countries’ people in the contrary to the laws created in the image and likeness of the West, determines the following areas of research within the framework of socio-cultural anthropology:

- Political anthropology
- Economic anthropology
- Anthropology of law
- Anthropology of gender
- Linguistic anthropology

Career opportunities

##### Professions

- Research anthropologist
- Government Analyst
- Teacher

[This webpage may contain outdated information. The programme descriptions and admission requirements for the 2026/2027 academic year are currently being updated. For the latest information on 2026/2027 admission, please visit the Admissions Office website.](https://abiturient.spbu.ru/en/)

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