Subject: Re: Introduction / Changes to the Ferghana-Valley list
rzanca@neiu.edu
Date: Fri Jun 23 2000 - 19:41:45 EDT
Greetings to All!
I'm RUssell Zanca, and I'm here in Chicago at Northeastern Illinois U.,
teaching anthropology--Central Asian peoples, Muslim societies and the
practices of islam, economic anthropology, etc.
I first traveled to Central Asia in 1992 following an abiding interest in
all things Soviet; I've studied and traveled throughout the CIS since
1986.
I received my doctorate from Urbana--U. Illinois--based on my research in
the Uchqorghon area of Namangan (Ferghana valley) during 1993-1994 and
1996. I have been writing village ethnography and kolkhoz society with an
emphasis on exchange practices and the socioeconomic fortunes of villagers
since the Soviet decline in the late 1980s. I am keenly interested in the
fate of agriculture as it affects rural people.
In addition to working for the UNHCR on questions of internal migration
and inter-ethnic conflict in Osh (1994), I have worked with Qorakul
pastoralists in Navoii for USAID, too. Regarding the latter, we were
trying to assess the development of privatization on sheep collectives
(practically nil), while building socioeconomic profiles of more than 70
shepherds and their families on six different kolkhozes and former
kolkhozes.
I was just in Tashkent conducting archival research, and I plan to return
next year to begin a new research project with a colleague.
I'm glad to be a part of this virtual community and grateful to all of the
scholars and professionals who've been working to increase our awareness
and educate us about all manner of topics pertaining to the FV and other
parts of Central Asia.
My hat really goes off to John for all the work he's done in maintaining
this project.
Best Wishes to All--RUssell Zanca
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