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administrative borders of the Union republics, which became state borders after the disintegration of the U.S.S.R. The second group includes peoples which became divided by administrative borders as a result of the policy of mass deportations, changes of ethnic territories, mass migrations during the pre-revolutionary period and in Soviet time. The third group is represented by the divided peoples who were subjected to division not by territorial borders, but by cultural and civilizational ones, because the Caucasus is increasingly turning into a zone of civilizational breaks, which increases ethnopolitical tension in the region.
Author of the abstract - Elena Dmitrieva
2018.01.009. SURHAI GALBATSEV. CHALLENGES AND RISKS OF STABLE DEVELOPMENT IN REPUBLIC OF DAGHESTAN (ETHNOPOLITICAL ASPECT) // "Caspian region: politics, economics, culture." Astrakhan, 2016, № 2(47), P. 123-128.
Keywords: Republic of Daghestan, stable development, ethnic rivalry, identity, ethnic minorities, territorial dispute.
Surhai Galbatsev,
South Russian Institute of Management,
at Russian Academy of Economics and Government Service
under the President of the Russian Federation (Rostov-on-Don).
The stable development of the Republic of Daghestan, the author notes, is threatened by numerous challenges and risks due to a host of problems, the most pressing and specific of them being the presence of a great many ethnic groups living side by side with one another with their own interests and claims. The intertwining of the local poly-ethnic elements and the geopolitical factor increases the threat to a stable development. Due to the fact that local conflicts are used as a geopolitical instrument and tend to aggravate vulnerable ethnic and religious problems the
question of a stable development of the republic becomes ever more pressing. The elaboration of a sound strategy to stabilize the situation and resolve conflicts and further develop the republic is an urgent problem for the national security of the country.
This can only be achieved if all ethnic groups are represented in the bodies of power on a just basis and have an equal access to social benefits. Meanwhile, in a poly-ethnic society with a different numerical strength of ethnic groups and their representation in the local elites, justice and equality cannot be easily achieved, and these problems often remain a pain in the neck for ethnic minorities. The Republic of Daghestan is a case in point.
Ethnopolitical conflicts that have emerged in the postSoviet area after the disintegration of the U.S.S.R. are one of the grave threats to the stable development of the entire country and region. Especially difficult ethnic conflicts take place in the southern parts of Russia. A complex ethnic composition of the population of the North Caucasus, especially the Republic of Daghestan, contains a potential threat of ethnopolitical tension.
In 2013 the republic was headed by the well-known Russian expert on nationalities problems Ramazan Abdulatipov. But this did not help overcome complex ethnopolitical problems and calm down the confrontation of ethnic clans in the republic. Daghestan and its people are not yet ready for radical transformations in the republic.
At the same time the poly-ethnic character of society gives birth to a high degree of civic identity, which is a specific feature of the inhabitants of the Republic of Daghestan. According to sociological polls carried out in Daghestan recently, 98 percent of Daghestanis do not see themselves living outside Russia, 51 percent identified themselves as "Russians," and 43 percent as "Daghestanis," emphasizing that "they live in the Russian Federation," and only five percent positioned themselves as representatives of a concrete ethnic group. These data show that there is now a common collective Daghestani identity, especially in towns. However, it is not yet stable and it exists predominantly in
the conditions of interethnic calm and quiet. Any ethnopolitical tension, outside influence, or information medium can move the ethnic factor to a dominant position, as it often happens in real life.
At the same time, clans (ethnic clan relations for the Daghestani people are one of the sources of difficult problems) are regarded by experts as one of the reasons for instability in the republic. The main problems are those of inter-clan contradictions (political rivalry between influential ethnic elites).
There is another, daily, level of conflicts - a conflict of the interests of ethnic groups (territorial, land, status, etc.).
In recent years, due to a land shortage or its great distance from suitable places, economic ruin, curtailment of industries, shortage of jobs, quite a few people had to abandon their native parts in search of work or better living conditions. Many ethnic groups historically live in difficult-of-access rural areas, on mountain slopes, in far-off economically backward places of the republic with few transport routes. The living conditions in these districts are still very difficult. Their inhabitants are gradually resettled to more convenient places in flatlands. Thus, resettlers' communities have formed in Nogai, Kumyk and Chechen villages. Consequences of deportations, land conflicts, difference in upbringing, culture and mentality give birth to arguments, too heated sometimes, and tension, displeasure of the indigenous population of flatlands. Latent conflicts flare up from time to time which can take a more acute form.
The exacerbation of the geopolitical situation in Russia and the growing influence of the geopolitical factor in ethnic, especially in religious conflicts, call for closer attention to ethnopolitical processes. In order to oppose the impact of geopolitical factors it is important to carry on an efficient ethnic policy, take into account multiform ethnic interests, prevent the negative consolidation of ethnic groups instigated by ethnic leaders pursuing their own selfish interests, contribute to just relations with ethnic minorities, and give them guarantees and opportunities for ethnic self-preservation, and the study of the
language and culture. It is necessary to lower the impact of conflict-provoking factors, carry on timely monitoring, and reveal controversial problems, but not ignore them.
It is important to optimally combine general civic identity with the preservation of ethnic group identity, historical and ethno-cultural traditions, which stem from the mentality and values of people's culture necessary for maintaining stability along with the preservation of the historically-formed traditions of mutual respect and friendly relations between ethnic groups, and sound ethnic rivalry.
The poly-ethnic character of the republic, plurality and contradictoriness of interests, territorial disputes, activity of ethnic leaders, errors of Soviet nationalities policy and unpreparedness for compromise hamper solution of current problems and become obstacles to stable development, the expert concludes.
Author of the abstract - Valentina Schensnovich
RUSLAN SULEIMANOV. COUNTRY BETWEEN TWO FIRES: HOW AZERBAIJAN BALANCES BETWEEN ISRAEL AND IRAN // The article was specially written for the bulletin "Russia and the Moslem World."
Keywords: Trans-Caucasian republic, Sunni Turkey, Azerbaijani-Iranian Relations, Azerbaijani-Israeli Relations, Iran, South Caucasus.
Ruslan Suleimanov,
Post-Graduate Student,
World Politics Department of Moscow State University
After gaining formal independence in 1991 and the opportunity to pursue its own foreign policy Azerbaijan, just like other former republics of the Soviet Union, stepped on a difficult path of searching for its own place on the geopolitical map of the world. The establishment of relations with different countries has
