Since the fall of the Iron Curtain, all sorts of mystic-esoteric literature poured into Russia, and the growing interest to these themes required serious academic research. The Russian science of esotericism has been developing in two directions, one «particular» (study of particular traditions), and another «general» (understanding the entire phenomenon of esotericism). This article mostly deals with the latter trend, systematizing various interpretations of the term «esotericism»; discussing specific features, functions, and structures of esotericism; classifying its forms and levels; etc. The paper also gives an overview of activities of the major academic community dealing with esotericism in Russia, the Association for the Study of Esotericism and Mysticism (ASEM).