This chapter presents the development of a research project, exploring the ways in which social security is produced and experienced in rural Russia. Based on a case study of Burla village, the project investigates the ways in which caring practices and material support are provided by and exchanged within a range of formal and informal, state and non-state, community and kinship structures
This chapter begins by exploring the theoretical and contextual frameworks for the study through a discussion of theoretical approaches to understanding “social security”, “care” and “the state”, followed by a review of existing literature on welfare, social security and rural life in contemporary Russia. It then goes on to present and discuss early findings from fieldwork conducted in March 2008 and April 2009
