The collapse of communism has opened up Russia and East-Central Europe to outside influences and enabled new lifestyle choices and forms of religious expression. Based on extensive ethnographic research, this collection uses a variety of theoretical perspectives and methodologies to examine some of the many subcultures and new religious movements that have emerged as part of this process, from members of utopian eco-communities, native-language hip-hoppers and nationalistic skinheads to various forms of Indian-inspired spirituality, neo-paganism and theosophy. Whether they reflect a growing sense of national or ethnic identity, the influence of globalization or a combination of the two, such groups highlight the challenge of creating a free, open and tolerant society in both Russia and new or prospective EU member states. The book seeks to contribute to academic and policy debates in this area by increasing understanding of the groups in question. The studies in this collection present selected findings from the three-year EU-funded project ‘Society and Lifestyles: Towards Enhancing Social Harmonization through Knowledge of Subcultural Communities’ (2006-2008), which included partners from a wide range of post-communist countries in Eastern Europe and from the UK.

The Editors: George McKay is Professor of Cultural Studies at the University of Salford. He has written or edited many books on popular music, and the cultural politics of alternative lifestyles. He is also co-editor of Social Movement Studies: Journal of Social, Cultural and Political Protest. Christopher Williams is Professor of Contemporary History at the University of Central Lancashire. He is a member of the Russian Academy of Political Science and was Secretary of the British Association for Slavonic and East European Studies from 1998 to 2001. Michael Goddard is a Lecturer in Media Studies at the University of Salford. His current research centres on East European cinema, visual culture and popular culture, particularly in Poland. Neil Foxlee is an Honorary Research Fellow in the Department of European Languages and Cultures at Lancaster University. He is a specialist in French intellectual history and the political writings of Albert Camus. He has also worked as a journalist and editor in the field of popular music, including hip-hop, punk, reggae and world music. Egidija Ramanauskait? is Head of the Centre for Cultural Studies at Vytautas Magnus University, Lithuania, and has worked extensively on youth subcultural topics over the last fifteen years.

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