|
|
The end of the XX century demonstrated great changes both on the global and regional levels. The deepest alterations took place on the one sixth part of the whole land territory which was occupied by USSR. Vast territories in both the European and Asian part of the continent were parts of the country in which the rigid policy of creation of homogeneous ideological space was realized. The highly mixed diversity of this space was intended for at least partial unification up to merging of its constituents into the single unit. However these utopian objectives failed to be achieved.
The collapse of USSR meant disappearance of former ideological determinant of its internal and external policy and narrowing of state control over social processes. The ideological and identity vacuum is filled intensively by nationalism. The processes of ethnocultural and religious renaissance, which are closely connected to each others go on. These processes are characterized by returning to roots of ethnic identity, the significance of which in limits of individual and group self-identity increases.
It is no wonder that very different social and political processes within the Post-Soviet space are very often "colored" by ethnocultural specificity even in the cases when it wouldn't seem to have some appreciable importance. As a matter of fact, the ethnocultural factor is represented obviously in national ideology, language, religion, but it is also influences (sometimes implicitly) the state policy in fields of social security, education, environment and other processes of civil society's and political system's formation. Both ruling regimes and opposition (which sometimes is acting illegally) use ethnicity and religion in political struggle for legitimizing their actions and mobilizing support.
The ethnocultural dimension influences noticeably not only internal social life of the Post-soviet states, but also their international relations. Re-orientation of the new states' external policy is motivated by their national interests often identified to the interests of dominant ethnoses. For example, the importance of the ideas of ethnocultural (Slavic, Turkic etc.) or religious (Orthodox Christian, Islamic) solidarity has increased essentially, though in field of international relations they are used mainly as an instrument for achievement of pragmatic purposes.
The ethnocultural aspect may work as more independent factor in ethnic conflicts, as it Nagorno-Karabakh, Abkhazian, Transdniestrian conflicts demonstrate. Although both ethnicity and religion are often regarded as instruments used by elites within their struggle for redistribution of economic (property), social (status) and political (power) resources, but in many respects situation is determined by conflict's internal logic and regularities, while the issue of defense of of ethnic majority or minority often narrows essentially a sphere of manoeuvres for elites of conflicting sides.
At last, after the disintegration of USSR the tinge of geopolitical situation in the Post-Soviet space and in adjacent areas has changed from "bloc-ideological" to ethnocultural or civilizational one. Even when the problem is mainly in subjective perception of situation by some analysts and politicians, the corresponding concepts (as "yellow peril", "offensive of Islam", "the threat of the Soviet (Russian) Empire's restoration" etc) more or less but do some influence on decision-making process. The ethnocultural dimension of the Post-Soviet geopolitics now reveals itself mainly within either the above-mentioned and other alarmist concepts or ideas of bloc creating based .on ethno-linguistic or civilizational community. Although such ideas and plans are often declarative been not supported by economic and other resources, they should be taken into account as stable factors influencing international of involved states and other engaged forces.
The above-mentioned social and political processes are reflected in the articles included to this annual. The issues both of local and regional level are discussed in the part "International Affairs and Security Issues". The work of Oleg Boronin illustrates the ethnocultural constituent of geopolitics, which can reveal itself even during realization of economic projects at the provincial level, such as the idea of construction of the highway between Altay region of Russia and Xinjiang district of China.. The threat of geopolitical (including demographic) Chinese expansion in this case is the main objection against the project, which at the first glance doesn't have essential political importance. The border issues of the Post-Soviet Central Asia, many of which became an unplanned result of the Soviet national-territorial policy, are considered in the article of Sergey Golunov. While nationalism is the base of the former Soviet republics' statehood, attempts to use it for establishment of sovereignty in the fixed territorial limits sometimes clash with the interests not only of the neighboring states, but also of different ethnic minorities, which often create majorities in border areas. The ethnocultural factor is also more or less revealed in other border security issues, including illegal migration, extremism, smuggling, environmental problems etc.
The next part is dedicated for consideration of religious issues which, as it was mentioned above, are closely connected to ethnocultural ones. It is clearly illustrated by the article of Victor Victorin who analyses activity of so-called "wahhabi" community in Russian city of Astrakhan. As the author demonstrates, this phenomenon exists within certain ethnic and territorial limits (Avars and Darghins from some areas of Daghestan) as a way of existence in social environment and response for social challenges within Daghestani communities of Astrakhan. The subject of Mutahir Ahmed's article includes problems in field both of Religious Studies (Islamic fundamentalism) and International Relations (the impact of events in Afghanistan on situation in Central Asia). The movement "Taliban" considered by the author is rather specific as it has radical religious character, at the same time basing on the certain ethnic base which consists of Pashtuns. As Afghanistan is connected to the Post-Soviet Central Asia by close ethnocultural ties, the author's idea that disintegration of Afghanistan would have far-reaching negative consequences for its neighbors and other interested countries seems to be well-founded.
The work of Freda Fuller Coursey in the part "Culture" analyses relationship between the language, culture and identity within the Post-Soviet space. By means of examples of situation in Ukraine and Azerbaijan the author demonstrates how language issues can acquire political significance and exacerbate interethnic tensions. It is happened because language and ethnic identity are closely interconnected. This identity was partly lost in the Soviet time, and after, in the period of transition, its search has acquired noticeable political and ideological tinge.
The subjects of two articles included in this annual do not correspond fully to its general chronological limits, but the issues considered in them still remain to be actual in context of the contemporary period. Vladimir Kostornichenko (his work is included in the part "History) concentrates on the rivalry among Soviet Russia and later the USSR and Western oil companies for oil deposits in Northern Iran in 1920-40-s. In this rivalry some features of modern situation connected to Caspian deposits of raw materials can be observed. In both cases the engaged parties had to act in conditions of renaissance of national self-consciousness in the countries reach in mineral resources. Thus the competing parties had to take into very serious account cultural, religious, ethno-psychological and other nuances. It is characteristic, that the rivals do not at all neglect by undercover means in order to achieve their aims. These means included bribery of officials, organization of mass movements against unsuitable decisions etc. It seems to be very probable, that the current available information about re-distribution of Caspian raw materials is also the just the surface part of iceberg which can be seen more adequately only in distant future.
The theme of Tomasz Kamusella's article (in part "Reviews") also remains its serious actuality. The author reviews the work of well-known Russian ethnologist Lev Gumilyov "History of the Ethnoses of the Great Steppe" whose conception became important contribution to the conception of Euirasianism which goes through its renaissance now. After the collapse of USSR these ideas have been using as ideological ground for re-integration of Eurasian space despite ethnocultural and religious differences of its constituents. As the author stresses, Gumilyov rejects the stereotype of "primitive, uncivilized Asian", recognizing the global role of Russia and Russians as a superethnos prevailing throughout the Eurasian space.
One of the main priorities of the Center for Regional and Transborder Studies is in support of young researchers specializing in the corresponding fields. The part "Works of young researchers" is intended for realization of this objective. The articles of Aiday Bekbosun Kyzy, Andrey Nikiforov and Alexey Shalinsky are devoted to internal problems of the new states: formation of the institution of political opposition in Kyrgyzstan, providing of Russian national interests in conditions of appearing tendencies for re-integration of the educational space in CIS and environmental policy of Kazakhstan correspondingly. The work of Katerina Arkhipova is dedicated to external politic aspects of Karabakh conflict which influence the peace negotiations.
This book opens the series of the Center for Regional and Transborder Studies' annual publications. We hope that these publications will contribute to development of cooperation between Russian and other research centers and individual researchers specializing in studies of social and political processes in the Post-Soviet space.
Sergey Golunov
Copyright © 2002 Center for Regional and Transboundary Studies at Volgograd State University
Copyright © 2002 Sergey Golunov
|
