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Community identities and interethnic relations in the region of Samarcand

Ziel

Definition of identities in the region of Samarcand generate a very specific community life. This region only preserved an identity structure, inherited from the past, and which, for its complexity and diversity, is representative of the presovietic Central Asian culture. This case constitutes a typical example of a historical process which, far from generating a uniformaised society, paradoxically conserved old identities, cohabiting on the same territory, and in which modalities of coexistence escape nationalist logics.
Thus, there exists, in independent Uzbekistan, a political affirmation of cultural uniformity within the population, based on the myth of existence of a titular nation. In the region of Samarcand, local population feels some discomfort and difficulties to fit with such definition criteria of Uzbek national identity.
For example, the major part of urban population in this region uses tajik as a mother language, but claim being Uzbek in official context. In closer environment, though, they rather put tajik identity forward. Claimed identity may be based on fictive or real origin, religion, language, tribal and local factors.
This diversity has been revisited and instrumentalised by soviet power, according to ideological principles, and in order to serve its interests. The actuality of tajik-speaking was concealed, to make languages coincide with Republics' borders. Other groups, small minorities, have been raised to the rank of distinct nationalities. That correspond to a logic and principles of integration within an Empire, the components of which should be of national type.
The study of historico-political elements falls into three distinct period, according the different socio-political contexts that structured, each of them its own way, identities in the region: imperial Russia and its protectorates, soviet Union, independent Uzbekistan.

The study will concentrate on three major directions:
Display group specificities with highest possible objectivity: linguistic, religious, geographical, cultural peculiarities, economic specialization. In doing this, exteriority of occidental participants shall constitute a guarantee of objectivity. Il will make it possible to draw a general outlook, on different levels, of identity belongings, composing this region's society. As far as tsarist period is concerned, the sources consisting of population censuses in this region, archived in Saint Petersburg, have just been opened to scientific research. Also, for soviet era, professor Sukhareva's personal unpublished archives constitute an inestimable source on the region: her material had not been allowed to publication for ideological reasons, and it' high time to gather it in order to save it from forgetting.
Basing reflexion on the general scheme that will have been drawn of various belonging groups, it will be necessary to study how, using formerly shown specificities, people built distinct community identities. When doing this, it will be necessary to investigate the modalities of political instrumentalisation and use by political power in the course of history, and the strategies implemented by by the concerned groups, in response to policies. It will give the possibility to estimate to which extent those policies exert influence on transformation of identities.
Lastly, it will suit to examine to which human and social relations leads community diversity: matrimonial strategies, geographical concentration, economical specialization, participation in political power, stigmatisation and phenomena of exclusion.
The soviet policy of nationalities had made up identities on a national, ethnolinguistic model. Independences aroused the question of identity belongings. Political power has undertaken a task of redefining national identity. The proposed study, and publication of its results, will bring a distant, and therefore less dramatic view, on the issue of inter-ethnic relations. It will be able to give evidence of an alternative to exacerbated nationalisms, based on the long-lasting peaceful cohabitation of the various components of this society.

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Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique
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