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International Conference
«Conflicts in the Caucasus: History, the Present and Prospects for Resolution»
Baku (Azerbaijan) 22-23 October, 2012 and Tbilisi (Georgia) 25-26 October, 2012
RUSSIANS IN UZBEKISTAN AS AN URBAN SUB-ETHNOS
Attempt at Social and Cultural AnalysisEvgenii ABDULLAEV
Evgenii Abdullaev, Ph.D. (Philos.), head of the international department, National Human Rights Center (Tashkent, Uzbekistan).
Ethnic studies of large ethnoses are open to influences of numerous prejudices and stereotypes that create a “vorticity field” of sorts around them. The larger the people the greater the number of prejudices. I should say that “commonplace ideas,” empirically obvious opinions about any ethnic group set much more dangerous traps for any researcher. These ideas are usually accepted as truths that need no corroboration.
However, the obvious does not mean that no analysis is needed. One of such commonly accepted opinions is a statement that Russians in Uzbekistan are mainly urban, rather than rural, dwellers. To my knowledge, none of the researchers has tried so far to explain this phenomenon which cannot be described as typical in the Soviet successor states. To sort things out one should try to understand why Russians who colonized Turkestan (now Central Asia) and came from a primarily agrarian country settled in towns rather than countryside.
“Agriculturally Better Than Any Russian”The difference between urban and non-urban cultures is as ancient as towns themselves. In Central Asia this difference is even greater due to the local landscapes and a natural difference between the oasis and steppe cultures. Towns appeared in the oases which since ancient times were the natural centers of international trade along the Silk Route. For centuries the difference remained the same and was based on different accessibility to water and its use. One can even say, with certain reservations, that the urban dwellers of Mavern-un-nahr exhibited specific ethnic and cultural traits: fewer Mongoloid features and more Iranisms in their speech.
Regular nomadic inroads left practically no traces in the ethnic and cultural makeup of the urbanites. The nomads first settled in the countryside to become cattle breeders and land tillers. Having become part of the rigidly organized rural community that totally depended on water the former nomads rarely moved to towns. In fact, only the military and guards had any chance to adapt themselves to urban conditions. The chance was slim: guards caused fear among the urban people who were not ready to accept them.
European colonization of Central Asia was proceeding along different lines: active people came from other parts to live in old towns and…………….
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