The paper presents an analysis of the norms of matrimony in contemporary Dagestan (Russia) and the role of ethnic classification by Soviet nationalities within it. Based on 133 in-depth interviews conducted across various regions of the republic, the study examines both formal norms and actual practices of marriage. The findings reveal a significant transformation in matrimonial norms, marked by a shift from traditional expectations of marrying within one's village to more universalistic approaches that permit forming families with Muslim individuals or anyone regardless of categorical membership. Soviet nationalities are relatively rarely mentioned as a factor in choosing a marital partner. When referenced, the preference for marrying within the same nationality is justified by the same arguments used to explain the logic of prioritizing marriages within one’s village. This suggests that nationalities act as a modern form of particularism, which, however, is not (and possibly never fully was) a significant regulator of marital relations. The study is contextualized within the hypothesis regarding the irrelevance of nationalities in Dagestan as a classificatory framework and is analyzed through the prism of literature dedicated to marital universalization in a global context.

Authors:
Nataliya Ivanova, RANEPA, Russia
Evgeni Varshaver, RANEPA, Russia

About the Presenter(s)
Nataliya Ivanova is a Research Fellow at the Center for Regional and Urban Studies at RANEPA, Moscow. Her research focuses on migration studies, migrant integration, second-generation migrants, urban sociology, and ethnicity.

Connect on Linkedin
https://www.linkedin.com/in/nataliya-s-ivanova/

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