Russia and Its Southern Neighbours

The Context: Geopolitical: geography is destiny Civilizational: what is Russia Political-economic: organizing society

The Four Tiers: Southern regions of the Russian Federation New independent states of the Caucasus and Central Asia The Middle East and Southwest Asia South and East Asia

Human migration routes* *The time frames are highly approximate

Europe and Asia, as seen by Herodotus, 5 th century BCE

Alexander’s empire

East- West North-South

Kiev Rus and its southern neighbours in 10 th -11 th centuries

Struggles of Kiev Rus  Control of the steppe  Control of access to Black and Caspian seas Loss of both in the 13 th century as a result of the Tatar-Mongol conquest People of the steppe gained control over the lands between Russia and the two seas Since 16 th century, Russia waged wars to take the steppe and gain access to the seas

The rise of Muscovy,

The homeland of Turkic peoples

Subjugation of Tatar khanates (kingdoms), remnants of the Tatar-Mongol empire Wars between Russia and the two southern empires: Turkey and Persia Religious connotations: clash of civilizations Human settlement of the southern frontier Main fronts: Balkans, Crimea, Black Sea, Caucasus

Russo-Turkish war of

Russo-Turkish war of

Russo-Turkish war of

By 1820s, Russia controls the entire northern and eastern coasts of the Black Sea and most of the Caspian It continues to push south. Goals: control of the Straits control of the Balkans control of Eastern Anatolia control of Iran Russia as conqueror Russia as liberator

Caucasian nations Some, mostly Orthodox Christians, wanted to join the Russian Empire  (Ossetians, Armenians, Georgians) Others, mostly Muslims, fiercely resisted it  (Circassians, Chechens) Clash of civilizations around the Black Sea

19 th century Russian expansion into Iran and Central Asia Security concerns minimal Human settlement Trade routes Resources Taking advantage of decay of Islamic states in the region Britain contains Russia’s southward push “The Great Game” The Russian-British deal

World War I: Russia’s southern policies as a major cause Russian expansion southward stimulated Western attempts at containment The Crimean War of Settlement of Russo-Turkish war of Balkan wars of 1911 and 1912 Nationalism between empires The start of World War I The Caucasian front of World War I

Ascending the Caucasus

Northern Caucasus: Mount Elbrus

Northern Caucasus

Northern Caucasus: the Military Georgian Road

Southern Caucasus, Mount Ararat

Southern Caucasus

Southern Caucasus: Hellenistic temple built in 1 st century CE

Tbilisi, capital of Georgia

Georgia: the region of Svanetia

Tbilisi: Old Town

A new church in Armenia

Yerevan, the capital of Armenia

Baku, capital of Azerbaijan: the Old City

Baku: seaside

Russia’s southern frontier was not only a frontline in wars Also - a hotbed of rebellion Since 18 th century: Cossack uprisings Throughout the 19 th century and afterwards: mountaineer unrest and rebellions Early 20 th century: socialism and nationalism Key role of the Caucasus in the Russian revolutions of 1905, 1917, and 1991

After the Tsar Bolsheviks came to power on an anti-imperialist wave Social and national liberation Destruction of the empire in 1917 Creation of new republics Other great powers try to take advantage of the Russian Civil War

Soviet policies Suppression of anti-Russian nationalism inside the former empire The socialist project as a model of multiethnic society, incorporating elements of nationalism Support of anti-Western nationalism outside the former empire Result: a new revolutionary empire viewed as an ally in Asia

Turkey A reconciliation between the 2 post-imperial states Not a single military conflict since 1918 Normal relations Soviet support of the Turkish Left

Iran The impact of the Russian revolution Soviet renunciation of Russian imperial claims to Northern Iran Support of Iran’s independence and modernization Support of Iran’s Left

Afghanistan The Russian Revolution enables Afghanistan to gain full independence from Britain in 1919 Afghanistan became the first country to recognize the Soviet government in Russia Support of independence and modernization

India The Russian revolution as an inspiration for Indian struggle for independence Indian nationalists viewed Soviet Russia as an ally in the fight against imperialism in Asia Soviet support for both communists and nationalists British concerns about Russia’s ideological influence

Mongolia With Soviet help, wins its independence from China in 1921 In 1924, a communist government is installed Soviet protection, assistance and control

China Example of the Russian Revolution Soviet support of China’s independence and modernization Support of both nationalists and communists

Stalin: the Red Empire period (late 1930s-early 1950s) Division of spheres of influence (with Hitler and Churchill) Attempts to revive Tsarist claims Deportation of whole ethnic groups US-led policies of containment

Mid-1950s to late 1970s The apex of Soviet influence in Asia The Soviet system looked attractive USSR supported independence and modernization of new states – economic and military assistance USSR supported non-alignment in Asia

Late 1970s – early 1990s Stagnation and decline of the Soviet model The rise of neoliberalism China moves into a quasi-alliance with the US Revolutions in Afghanistan and Iran Soviet intervention in Afghanistan The rise of radial Islam Rise of nationalism inside the USSR

Nationalities of the Caucasus

1. By language family North Caucasian  North-West  Circassian (Adygbze): 110  Cherkes, Kabardin: 350  Abkhaz: 90  Abaza: 33  Ubykh [extinct]  Central (Vaynakh)  Chechen: 700  Ingush: 160  Bats: 3

 North-East (Dagestani)  Avar: 450  Andi: 50  Dido: 3  Lak: 90  Dargin: 280  Archi: 0.8  Lezgin: 320  Tabasaran: 70  Agul: 12  Budukh: 2  Kriz: 6  Rutul: 12  Tsakhur: 12  Udi: 5

South Caucasian  Georgian (Kartvelian): 3,600  Laz: 33  Mingrelian: 500  Svan: 35 Turkic  Azeri: 4,300  Karachay, Balkar: 190  Noghay:  Kumyk: 220 Indoeuropean  Armenian: 4,200  Iranian:  Ossetian: 572  Tati: 22  Talysh: 160

2. Non-indigenous  Russian (Indoeuropean, Slavic)  Greek (Indoeuropean, Greek): some pockets  Kurdish (Indoeuropean, Iranian): some pockets  Turkmen (Turkic): some pockets 3. Other ethnic groups  Meskhet: Turks from Georgia deported to Central Asia (1944)  Mountain Jews: Tati-speaking Jews in Dagestan  Adzhar: Muslim Georgians  Khemshin: Muslim Armenians deported to Central Asia (1944)  Cossacks: Russian colonizers

Main ethnopolitical conflicts in the Caucasus:  In Russia: Chechnya, other regions of North Caucasus  In Georgia: Abkhazia and South Ossetia  In Armenia: Nagorno-Karabagh

Central Asia

Where is Central Asia?

Silk Road Seattle - Historical Atlas

Samarkand, Uzbekistan

Bokhara, Uzbekistan

Plains of Mongolia