Abstract: This article examines the uniqueness of common law among Altai people with regards to traditions of inheriting the patrimonial ranks; the institution of Zaisanship is being researched. The author thoroughly explores such aspects of the topic as: peculiarities of transferring the administration within the Seok clan; historical legal issues of establishment of the Altai clan aristocracy during the period of Dzungar leadership, as well as during the period after the affiliation of Altai nation into the Russian Empire. Special attention is given to the wealth status of the representative of the ethnic elites. Despite the fact that there are many research conducted on the history and ethnology of Altai people, the inheritance relationships are yet analyzed from the legal perspective. The materials used in this work are somewhat unique, because are partially comprised from the original sources in the course of several expeditions to the Altai Mountains during the period of 2005-2009, and just recently they have been processed. The examination of the common law of the Russian republics is an important step towards understanding the preceding legal concept and preservation of the historical memory.

Abstract: This article examines the uniqueness of the customary law of the residents of Altai Krai pertaining to the traditions of inheriting property. The author analyzes participation of the relatives (spouse and children) in inheritance of the property of the father. The research offers some of the peculiarities of the Institution of Zaysanat among Altaians. In addition to that, the research also addresses the land relations between the Seok tribes of the Altai; influence of the sedentism processes upon the process of research; the specificity of property relations, as well as the order of transfer of prospecting and hunting territories. The author compares the common-patrimonial law with the actual law of the Zaysan administration. Based on the character of modern legal knowledge, the author attempted the organic fusion of elements of legal analysis and historical-cultural and anthropological approaches. The author offers unique information based on the collected field material. The data is collected directly from the sources and informants during several expeditions to the summits of the Altai Mountains throughout 2005-2009, which just now has been processed. Each year there are less and less informants remain, and along with them, we are losing a portion of valuable knowledge. Study of the customary law of Russia’s ethnoses is an important step in understanding the former concept of law and preservation of historical heritage.

Abstract: This article examines the uniqueness of the customary law of the residents of Altai Krai pertaining to the traditions of inheriting property. The author analyzes participation of the relatives (spouse and children) in inheritance of the property of the father. The research offers some of the peculiarities of the Institution of Zaysanat among Altaians. In addition to that, the research also addresses the land relations between the Seok tribes of the Altai; influence of the sedentism processes upon the process of research; the specificity of property relations, as well as the order of transfer of prospecting and hunting territories. The author compares the common-patrimonial law with the actual law of the Zaysan administration. Based on the character of modern legal knowledge, the author attempted the organic fusion of elements of legal analysis and historical-cultural and anthropological approaches. The author offers unique information based on the collected field material. The data is collected directly from the sources and informants during several expeditions to the summits of the Altai Mountains throughout 2005-2009, which just now has been processed. Each year there are less and less informants remain, and along with them, we are losing a portion of valuable knowledge. Study of the customary law of Russia’s ethnoses is an important step in understanding the former concept of law and preservation of historical heritage.

Abstract: The author of the article considers the crisis of the age of multiculturalism, the destructive effects of globalization, the failure of the West European model of public conscience and the state “melting pot” policy. The author analyzes the typologies of nationalism and criticizes the interpretations of liberal nationalism. The paper considers the ethnic and cultural unification on the territory of Europe and Russia. The author concludes about the difficulties of integration of representatives of various ethnic groups in the circumstances of deformation of cultural and legal values. Along with general scientific methods, the author applies the principles and methods of sociology of law, philosophy of law and legal conflictology. Analyzing ethno-cultural dimensions of legal anthropology, the author applies various theories of ethnic psychology, the methods and approaches of political, cultural and philosophical anthropology and ethnology. Special scientific methods of legal science are used for the analysis of the subject of legal anthropology from the position of comparative jurisprudence and formal-dogmatic comprehension of law. The main contribution of the author is the critical rethinking of the typology of nationalism and the constructive critics of the model of multicultural society and “melting pot”. The author comes to the conclusion about the importance of law as a social regulator, aimed at the creation of new psychological impulses of behavior, and the inefficiency of integration processes in the conditions of the modern globalization.