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PLACE AND ROLE OF ISLAM IN REGIONS OF THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION, THE CAUCASSUS AND CENTRAL ASIA
2018.02.004. ZINAIDA SIKEVICH. ETHNIC IDENTITY OF RUSSIANS AND CHECHENS IN THE CONTEXT OF HISTORICAL MEMORY (COMPARISON STUDY) // "Vlast," Moscow, 2017, № 2, P. 122-129.
Keywords: ethnic identity, ethnic consolidation, historical memory, historical representation, historical event, content analysis method.
Zinaida Sikevich,
PhD(Sociology), Professor,
Cultural Anthropology and Ethnic Sociology Department, Faculty of Sociology St. Petersburg State University
Historical memory is one of the dominant characters of national consolidation. In modern society historical memory to a large extent, than the cultural tradition, represents some kind of ethnic identity core. Today, the researcher is convinced that the history performs some kind of protection function, not only keeping positive ethnic identity at the group level but also promoting formation of civil consciousness. The Post-Soviet states pay careful attention to national history, especially to those images which are conveyed from pages of school textbooks. Equal significance is attached to formation of historical consciousness in the national republics of the Russian Federation, and along with the all-Russian component in the course of development of
historical knowledge at the historical memory there can't but be a local color.
The complexity of history presentation in particular Russian regions consists in that due to historical peripetias of formation of the Russian state the same historical events and personalities are interpreted in various manners. For example, in Tatarstan capture of Kazan by troops of Ivan the Terrible is perceived not as in Russian regions. In one instance - as a victory of the Russian weapon and liberation from The Golden Horde dependence, in another one - as defeat and loss of independence. For Russians the general Yermolov is the war hero of 1812, and for Chechens - the conqueror of the Caucasus who was remembered by his cruelty.
Z. Sikevich compares an image of national history in vision of Petersburgers of the Russian nationality and Chechens -residents of Grozny, hypothetically assuming that this image will differ, despite "fellowship" of population of both cities. Images of the Russian and the Chechen "I" vary considerably. If for Petersburgers there is a competition between an ethnic and territorial component, then for Chechens the confession is a leading character of self-determination dominating even ethnic one. The territorial identity for the Grozny selection is insignificant, the rank and teypovy membership is low that allows to judge indirectly on formation of single Chechen consciousness and overcoming of traditional patrimonial "reference." The civil identity for both selections, but especially for the Chechen "remains short of" the ethnic one. Important sign of ethnic consciousness is the consolidating characteristics of identity - the supports which allow speaking about group self-identification.
Religion for Chechens is a consolidation basis that confirms the particular importance of Islam for self-identification of people. A likeness between attitudes of both groups is found by a hallmark "home ground" which appears among bases of consolidation of both Chechens and Petersburgers. Geographical determinism despite negative attitude of the scientific environment to this theory keeps its positions in mass consciousness, at that such
various on mentality and cultural tradition communities as Chechens and Russians Petersburgers. The greatest divergence is found on hallmarks "way of life" and "state." Predominance of "state" in the idea of Chechens about Russians is taken by "way of life." According to Chechens history is much more important for consolidation of Russians than Chechens. Apparently, this results from the fact that in mass consciousness history is the past of a state, but not people and therefore in Russia there is the "Russian" but not the "Chechen" history.
The author addresses the main milestones and the facts of collective historical memory which allowed finding a poll in St. Petersburg and Grozny. Questions were formulated as follows: "What events in the history of Russia cause personally you to feel pride and which one - sense of shame or regrets for the fact that they took place?" Answers in St. Petersburg and in Chechnya were at something alike and something diverse that is naturally, considering a challenging road of integration of Chechens and Chechnya into the Russian statehood both in 19th and in the 20th centuries. Between both groups of participants of the poll it is obvious the distinction on the events causing pride.
St. Petersburg selection. The Soviet era cause the most positive emotions here: among positive associations - the Great Patriotic War or its separate events, in particular the battle of Stalingrad, battle on the Kursk Bulge and capture of Berlin. Every second respondent remembered Yury Gagarin's flight (the first satellite, space exploration). Among events of a positive row practically there are almost all wars which were waged by Russia throughout the centuries-old history - from the Battle of Kulikovo and the Battle on the ice to war with Napoleon 1812. The most negative feelings are caused by Stalin repressions, but it is telling that approximately every fifth person from those who consider repressions the most negative event of the Russian history simultaneously assesses Stalin's personality as the outstanding figure of history. For some people first of all young ones, Stalin exists as if out of a negative context of his activity. As for the
Contemporary history, the greatest regret is caused by the collapse of the USSR and also the war in Afghanistan. For the first time restructuring got negative assessment and the age factor was insignificant, i.e. among its conditional "opponents" both young and elderly participants of the poll are approximately equally presented.
Chechen selection. A chain of historical events made by participants of the poll in Grozny can be conditionally divided into events of all-Russian and national history. During the pre-revolutionary period in historical memory of the interviewed Chechens the all-Russian past dominates. The exception is just the First Caucasian war and its separate events estimated both positively and negatively.
So, in particular, pride causes a revolt of the sheikh Mansour (the Islamic prophet [1760-1794], the first imam of the North Caucasus, the head of the national liberation movement of 17651791 died in the Shlisselburg fortress). Also the history of Zelimkhana is remembered (the abrek who cooperated with anarchists in the days of the First Russian revolution, killed in 1913), Baysongur Benoyevsky's heroics (naib Shamil [1794-1861], captured and released by Murid sect. After Shamil's capture in 1860 he rose a new rebellion, in a year was grabbed and hung up). Negative emotions are evoked by B. Benoyevsky's execution, fall of the Imamah, surrender and betraying of the imam Shamil. The First World War is associated in historical memory of Chechens first of all with victories of the Wild division (July, 1914 - September, 1917) consisting of volunteers who lived for spoils of war.
It is remarkable that neither the First Caucasian war which Russia waged in the North Caucasus more than 40 years nor participation in World War I of the Wild division was remembered by any Petersburger though these events are not only the Chechen, but also national history, however they didn't leave in historical attitudes of the Russian respondents. This fact demonstrates not only differences in historical memory of representatives of
different nations of Russia, but also national specifics of interpretation of the past.
During the Soviet and Post-Soviet era events of own history dominate among respondents in Grozny. Even the Great Patriotic War taking an important place in historical associations of this period is remembered through a prism of inclusiveness of own people in events of that war. So, in particular, it is said about participation of Chechens in protection of the Brest fortress. The central place in the Soviet history for Chechens is taken by deportation and the subsequent rehabilitation of the Chechen people. The pride causes firmness and respect for seniors which remained in exile. Ambivalent feelings arise at respondents in connection with charges of betraying of Chechens, "mockeries" at them. Some participants of the poll consider that during this period there was "a loss of national pride" and "degradation." A core of the Contemporary history for the Chechen selection both in positive and a negative context is the Chechen conflict and its consequences. So a sense of shame is caused by military operations of Dzhokhar Dudaev, his government in general, death of young people, trafficking and weapon sales, destruction of Grozny, Basayev's invasion into Dagestan, terrorist attacks in Budyonnovsk and Beslan, the Wahhabite movement. Positive emotions occur in view of the end of the Chechen war, cancellation of counter-terrorism operation, revival of the Chechen people and restoration of its statehood as a part of the Russian Federation, return to peaceful life. Thus, interpretation of the events connected with the Chechen conflict in general corresponds to the all-Russian interpretation.
The researcher compares the events causing pride and sense of shame in the St. Petersburg and Chechen selection. As modal events of national history Chechens rank four (except the Great Patriotic War and the conquest of space - the War of 1812 and annexation of the Crimea), as events of national history - seven. Like a historical chain of events causing pride and in negative connotations between two selections there are both the similarity,
and distinction. So, Stalin repressions are modal both for Petersburgers, and for Chechens. However, unlike residents of the capital of the North, residents of Grozny, and it is quite clear, separate deportation of their people from the general notation "repressions." The first Caucasian war and the Second World War cause not only pride, but also negative emotions at Chechens. Inclusion of these events not only in positive, but also in a negative number of associations it is allegedly possible to explain with defeat of highlanders in the First Caucasian war and a large number of victims, initial retreat in days of the Great Patriotic War.
Thus, and in this case the national "picture of the past" dominates over the all-Russian interpretation of history. For participants of the poll in both cities a core of historical process as in a positive, and negative context are victorious (or lost) wars. The events reflecting cultural achievements take the minor place. For respondents history first of all is a political process. The Chechen conflict of the 1990th causes most of residents of Grozny negative emotions. Unlike this event, the First Caucasian war of the 20th century generate mixed feelings - not only regret, but also pride. Revival of Chechnya after the conflict, activity of the leaders of the republic is assessed positively by one and all respondents. Perception of the past by Chechens is far more personified, than participants of the poll in St. Petersburg that is an indirect evidence of historical consciousness mythologization of these people, the researcher concludes.
Author of the abstract- Elena Dmitrieva
