4/29/20151 Russia and Its Southern Neighbours, Part III.

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Russia and Its Southern Neighbours, Part III

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Russia’s southern frontier as a hotbed of rebellion Since 18th century: Cossack uprisings Throughout the 19th century and afterwards: mountaineer

unrest and rebellions Early 20th century: socialism and nationalism Key role of the Caucasus in the Russian revolutions of

1905, 1917, and 1991 The war in Afghanistan Since 1991: challenges to Russia’s power (Chechnya,

Georgia)

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The Soviet period Bolsheviks came to power on an anti-imperialist wave,

promising social and national liberation Collapse of the empire in 1917 Creation of new republics, struggles within them Other great powers try to take advantage of the Russian

Civil War – and push Russia out of the Caucasus and Central Asia

Russia regains control of the Southern regions through class appeal – liberation of workers and peasants

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Soviet policies Suppression of anti-Russian nationalism inside the former

empire The socialist project as a model of modern multiethnic

society, incorporating elements of nationalism Support of anti-Western nationalism outside the former

empire Result: the Soviet Union as a new revolutionary empire was

viewed as an ally by Asian anti-imperialist forces

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Turkey A reconciliation between the 2 historical enemies Not a single military conflict since 1918 Mostly normal relations

But: Soviet support of the Turkish Left World War II: Turkey’s vacillations between USSR and

Germany Stalin’s designs on Turkey after World War II Turkey as a key Western ally in the Cold War

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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

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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

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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

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

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

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World War II Southern regions of European USSR as a key strategic

theater of war Hitler’s chances of defeating the USSR Hitler’s plans to capture energy resources of the

Middle East German overtures to regional anti-Russian nationalisms Germany’s diplomatic moves to secure support of Turkey,

Iran and Afghanistan Allied collaboration against Hitler in the region

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German troops enter the Black Sea port of Novorossiysk, North Caucasus, Aug. 1942

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q2cH_os3JDo&feature=PlayList&p=CC8EA4F8297188F6&playnext=1&playnext_from=PL&index=47

German troops fighting in the mountains of North Caucasus, Nov. 1942

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VjDnQRA5dY8&feature=related

04/18/23 14 The Southern Front in 1942

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Stalin: the Red Empire period (late 1930s-early 1950s) Division of spheres of influence (first with Hitler, then with

Churchill) Attempts to revive Tsarist claims – coupled with a

revolutionary appeal Deportation of whole ethnic groups from Crimea and the

Caucasus US-led policies of containment: the Baghdad Pact, CENTO Turkey and Iran as battlegrounds Afghanistan as a neutral buffer state

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Mid-1950s to late 1970s The apex of Soviet influence in Asia Post-Stalin reforms; return of the deportees The Soviet system looked successful and attractive to

many in the Global South USSR supported independence and modernization of post-

colonial states – economic and military assistance USSR supported non-alignment in Asia Geopolitical successes and failures

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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 radical Islam Rise of ethnopolitical conflicts inside the USSR Role of the South in the collapse of the USSR? MARGINAL

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From USSR to Russian Federation Russia moves to dissolve the USSR Abandons competition with the West Cuts its support for the Communist regime in Afghanistan Turns inward, experiences a severe crisis of transformation Emergence of 8 New Independent States Turmoil in the Caucasus and Central Asia

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Recent Russian policies on the Southern frontier

The first post-Cold War period (1992-99) Wars on the Chechen separatists Interventions in civil wars in CIS (Georgia, Tajikistan) Conflict resolution and peace-keeping policies in

multilateral contexts

The second post-Cold War period (2000-08) Cooperation with the US and NATO against radical

Islamists Competition for control of Caspian and Central Asian

energy resources Growth of strategic partnership with China Moves to limit Western influence

http://temi.repubblica.it/limes-heartland/how-america-wants-to-check-chinas-expansion/897

The “Southern Corridor” to bypass Russia

Russia and the Muslim world: a brief overview

A mosque in Siberia

A Moslem cleric greets the Russian Patriarch

Strategic partners: Uzbek President Islam Karimov and Russian President Vladimir Putin

Muslims praying in a Tatarstan mosque

Protester in Tatarstan demanding that the Tatar language be given the status of the second state language in the republic

Chechnya, 2003: pro-Russian warriors

Putin’s man in Chechnya: President Ramzan Kadyrov

A Chechen official talking to Russian soldiers in Chechnya, showing them who is the boss:

http://roman-n.livejournal.com/913560.html

Historical evolution of Russia’s relations with the Muslim world

1. Tsarist Russia Liberation from The Golden Horde (14th-15th centuries) Conquest of Tatar Khanates on the Volga and in the

Crimea (16 – 18th centuries) Wars with the Ottoman Empire (18th- early 20th centuries) Wars with the Persian Empire (18th-early 19th centuries) Conquest of the North Caucasus (18th-19th centuries) Conquest of Central Asian Khanates (19th century)

2. The Soviet Union The end of imperial rivalry with Turkey Support of secular nationalism in the Muslim world Socialist modernization in Muslim lands of the USSR State-driven atheistic campaigns in the USSR Suppression of Islamist rebellions Strict government control of religious activities 1970s: The Soviet Union becomes a target of radical Islam:

Iran and Afghanistan Conflict with Islam becomes one of the factors of the

collapse of the USSR

3. The post-Soviet Russian Federation Independence for most Muslims outside RF Wide autonomy for Muslim republics inside RF Official recognition of Islam as “an inseparable part of the

historical heritage of Russia's peoples” (along with Christianity, Buddhism, Judaism and others)

Full freedom of religious practices Conflicts with radical Islam (North Caucasus, Central Asia) Active engagement with the Muslim world (economic

cooperation in the first place) Attempts to present Russia as part of the Muslim world Attempts to position Russia as mediator between Islam and

the West – dialog of civilizations, opposition to Western use of force against Muslim states)