DOCSLIB.ORG

Regional Identity and Constructive Regionalization in the North Caucasus: Group Perceptions and Nuances from Inside the Region

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Regional Identity and Constructive Regionalization in the North Caucasus: Group Perceptions and Nuances from Inside the Region Regional Identity and Constructive Regionalization in the North Caucasus: Group Perceptions and Nuances from Inside the Region By ©2017 Austen Thelen Submitted to the graduate degree program in geography and the Graduate Faculty of the University of Kansas in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy. ________________________________ Chairperson: Shannon O’Lear, Ph. D. ________________________________ Barney Warf, Ph. D. ________________________________ Stephen Egbert, Ph. D. ________________________________ Alexander C. Diener, Ph. D. ________________________________ Mariya Y. Omelicheva, Ph. D. Date Defended: December 14, 2016 The Dissertation Committee for Austen Thelen certifies that this is the approved version of the following dissertation: Regional Identity and Constructive Regionalization in the North Caucasus: Group Perceptions and Nuances from Inside the Region ________________________________ Chairperson Shannon O’Lear, Ph. D. Date approved: January 20, 2017 ii Abstract The North Caucasus region of Russia is certainly one of the world’s most ethnically, culturally, and linguistically diverse. The region’s landscapes reflect legacies of Russian imperialism and Soviet rule, along with contemporary Russian federal administration. The North Caucasus also constitutes a zone of religious transition between Christianity and Islam. These qualities, all of which may potentially serve as markers of identity among the region’s local population, have long constituted a challenge for ethnic Russian, and/or Russian state dominance, and thus have promoted state-led efforts and policies (namely “ethno-federalism” and “federal district reform”) that attempt to achieve a cohesive sense of regional identity for the North Caucasus. This dissertation examines empirical understandings and perceptions of regional and territorial identity as expressed through the collective experiences, attitudes, and opinions of young adults in the contemporary North Caucasus. The project aims to investigate how “the region” ranks among other identity markers of North Caucasus’s many ethno-national and socio-cultural groups, recognize how residents of the region understand it in terms of territorial composition and meaning, and discern any nuances among the population regarding the use of regional policy by the Russian state so as to influence perceptions and discourses on identity, security, and economic development (efforts which I term “constructive regionalization”). The research methodology includes analysis of survey data, as well as a GIS- based cognitive mapping exercise, to indicate statistically significant differences of opinion on the importance of identity markers and their territorial salience. These differences are explained via qualitative interview data gained directly from participants in the field. iii Acknowledgements I need to thank many people for their unyielding help and support, which I have received not only throughout the dissertation process, but throughout my entire education. First and foremost, thank you to my wife Anna for her patience and unwavering dedication to our life, our daughter, and ultimately to my success and career. I acknowledge the many personal sacrifices that she has made on my behalf. I want to say thank you to two professors who were inspirational to me in the formative years of my education at Michigan State University: Dr. Kyle Evered from the Department of Geography and Dr. Jason Merrill from the Department of Slavic, Germanic and African Languages. Thank you for inspiring me to focus on Eurasia, and for giving me the confidence and helping me achieve the skills necessary to work in the field. To all of my professors at the University of Kansas, thank you so much for your dedication and for all of your inspiring work. Thank you to my advisor Dr. Shannon O’Lear for patiently guiding me through this process, for always encouraging me to be a creative and innovative researcher, and above all for helping me to develop the research skills, ethics, and confidence that I now enjoy. I could not have been successful without her help, advice, and support. Thank you to Dr. Barney Warf for being truly inspirational, and for guiding me to an understanding of the real importance of geography, both inside and outside of academia. Because of him, I will be not only be a life-long geographer, but a life-long advocate for geography and for the causes that our discipline seeks to champion. Thank you to Dr. Stephen Egbert for all of the time and patience dedicated to me and my development as a scholar, and especially for all of the long conversations we had. Because of him and his passion for collaborative research and understanding, I have learned what it means to be true to one’s self iv and convictions in the pursuit of scholarship. Thank you to Dr. Alexander C. Diener for being a wonderful example for young scholars working on Eurasia. Although our paths crossed only for a short time at KU, the advice he provided me, based on his own life, experiences, and insights into our field of study, has proved to be extremely beneficial for me in my career thus far. Thank you to Dr. Mariya Y. Omelechiva for her leadership and for her willingness to support me throughout my entire time in grad school. She is really a great example for aspiring graduate students who have international focus and aspirations, and she helped me very much in my approach and confidence in studying Russia. I want to say thank you to a committee member who unfortunately will not get to see me complete this journey, as he was taken from us much too soon: Dr. Alexander Tsiovkh. There is no doubt that Dr. Tsiovkh will always be remembered by the students he influenced. His teaching and guidance were instrumental in my development as a student, and as an educator. The lesson I will remember most from Dr. Tsiovkh is the importance of language and cultural competence in regional analysis, and that cultural understanding and empathy are both necessary for true and honest scholarship. Finally, I want to thank Taylor Tappan from the University of Kansas for his help in developing the GIS portions of this project. I also need to thank and acknowledge all of my friends and colleagues in Stavropol and throughout Russia. Without your interest, mutual curiosity, and appreciation for social science research, this project would not have been possible. v Table of Contents Title Page…………………………………………………………………………………………..i Acceptance Page…………………………………………………………………………………..ii Abstract…………………………………………………………………………………………...iii Acknowledgements……………………………………………………………………………….iv Table of Contents…………………………………………………………………………………vi List of Figures and Tables…………………………………………………………………………x Chapter I: Introduction, Background, and Project Goals…………………………………….1 Constructive Regionalization and the Importance of Regional Identity…………………..2 The Case in Question: The North Caucasus………………………………………………5 Stavropol’s Importance ………………………………………………………………….10 Potential Impact………………………………………………………………………….14 Chapter II: Theory……………………………………………………………………………..17 Scale……………………………………………………………………………………...18 Territoriality……………………………………………………………………………...20 Identity and Place………………………………………………………………………...24 Discourse, Production of Knowledge, and Critical Geopolitics…………………………30 Cognitive Mapping and Spatial Cognition………………………………………………37 Chapter III: Regional Background and Stavropol's Role in Russia's Historical Geography………………………………………………………………………………………41 The Soviet Period and Its Ethno-Territorial Legacy..........................................................44 Contemporary Issues: Demographics and Socio-Cultural groups……………………….47 Russia's Post-Soviet Ethno-Federalism………………………………………………….53 Federal District Reform, Regional Consolidation, and the State's ethnic Russian Agenda...............................................................................................................................58 Chapter IV: Methodology and Data…………………………………………………………..65 Research Question 1………………………....…………………………………………..66 Research Question 2……………………………………………………………………..66 Research Question 3……………………………………………………………………..66 Research Question 4……………………………………………………………………..66 The Datasets and Data Collection...................................................................…...............68 Sampling Methods……………………………………………………………………….69 vi Survey Data........................................................................................................................71 Survey Data Analysis…………………………………………………………………….79 Participatory Mapping Data……………………………………………………………...82 Analysis of Participatory Mapping Data…………………………………………………84 Map 1: Native Language Salience……………………………………………………….88 Map 2: Territorial Extents of North Caucasus Region…………………………………..89 Map 3: Salience of Religion …………………………………………………………….90 Map 4: Perceived Practice of National Traditions……………………………………….90 Interview Data……………………………………………………………………………91 Analysis of Interview Data………………………………………………………………93 Positionality, Personal Bias, and Limitations……………………………………………95 Chapter V: Results and Analysis from Survey Data…………………………………………97 Significant Differences in Identity Preferences between Independent Variable Categories………………………………………………………………………………104 Significant Differences in Identity Preferences between Ethnic Russians and Non- Russian Participants…………………………………………………………………….104 Significant Differences in Identity Preferences between Native Russian Speakers and Native Speakers of Other Languages…………………………………………………...109
Load more

Recommended publications
  • 150 Placenames of Scottish Origins in Russia
    Placenames of Scottish origins in Russia (a toponymic index and description) Alexander Pavlenko – Galina Pavlenko – Olga Stroganova DOI: 10.18355/XL.2017.10.03.12 Abstract The article contains a brief description of a project devoted to the sociocultural interaction between Scotland and Russia and focusing on the toponyms derived from Scottish personal names found in the territory of the former Russian Empire. Although such placenames constitute a humble but a noteworthy part of the Scottish legacy in Russia, this stratum of the Russian toponymy has never been systematically studied. Here we provide a list of the Russian place-names of direct or indirect Scottish origins and summarize some observations regarding their history as well as the history of the families behind these names. A morphological analysis of the placenames of this kind is provided to reveal the word-building patterns involved. Key words: Russia, Scotland, toponymy, placename, athroponym, morphological structure Introduction The anthropocentric approach to language in general and onomastics in particular allows to consider placenames through the history of the people and the histories of the idioms they speak. Toponymy of any country reflects the peculiarities of its historical development as well as cultural and language contacts taking place in its territory throughout the history. The problem of historical study of proper names has been addressed by scholars, who consider them as a kind of monuments “accumulating” history. This view is shared by such linguists as V.A.Nikonov (1965), A.I.Popov (1965), Yu.A.Karpenko (1970), A.V.Superanskaya (1985), E.M.Murzayev (1994), and others.
    [Show full text]
  • Policy Brief Series
    The Migration, Environment Migration, Environment and Climate Change: and Climate Change: Policy Brief Series is produced as part of the Migration, Environment and Climate Change: Evidence for Policy (MECLEP) project funded by the European Union, implemented Policy Brief Series by IOM through a consortium with ISSN 2410-4930 Issue 4 | Vol. 2 | April 2016 six research partners. 2012 East Azerbaijan earthquakes © Mardetanha, 2012 Environmental migration and displacement in Azerbaijan: Highlighting the need for research and policies Irene Leonardelli, IOM Introduction From a geological and environmental point of view, the 362). Simultaneously, due to climate change, the country Caucasus region ‒ where the Republic of Azerbaijan is increasingly exposed to slow-onset processes, such (hereafter “Azerbaijan”) is located ‒ is a very active as water scarcity, salinization and pollution, rising and hazardous area; this is mainly reflected in the temperatures, sea-level fluctuation, droughts and soil intensity and the frequency of floods, storms, landslides, degradation. While natural disasters have displaced mudflows and earthquakes (ogli Mammadov, 2012:361, 67,865 people between 2009 and 2014 (IDMC, 2014), the YEARS This project is funded by the This project is implemented by the European Union International Organization for Migration 44_16 Migration, Environment and Climate Change: Policy Brief Series Issue 4 | Vol. 2 | April 2016 2 progressive exacerbation of environmental degradation Extreme weather events and slow-onset is thought to have significant adverse impacts on livelihoods and communities especially in certain areas processes in Azerbaijan of the country. Azerbaijan’s exposure to severe weather events and After gaining independence in 1991 as a result of the negative impacts on the population are increasing.
    [Show full text]
  • The Role of Greek Culture Representation in Socio-Economic Development of the Southern Regions of Russia
    European Research Studies Journal Volume XXI, Special Issue 1, 2018 pp. 136 - 147 The Role of Greek Culture Representation in Socio-Economic Development of the Southern Regions of Russia T.V. Evsyukova1, I.G. Barabanova2, O.V. Glukhova3, E.A. Cherednikova4 Abstract: This article researches how the Greek lingvoculture represented in onomasticon of the South of Russia. The South Russian anthroponyms, toponyms and pragmatonyms are considered in this article and how they verbalize the most important values and ideological views. It is proved in the article that the key concepts of the Greek lingvoculture such as: “Peace”, “Faith”, “Love”, “Heroism”, “Knowledge”, “Alphabet”, “Power”, “Charismatic person” and “Craft” are highly concentrated in the onomastic lexis of the researched region. The mentioned above concepts due to their specific pragmatic orientation are represented at different extend. Keywords: Culture, linguoculture, onomastics, concept anthroponym, toponym, pragmatonim. 1D.Sc. in Linguistics, Professor, Department of Linguistics and Intercultural Communication, Rostov State University of Economics, Rostov-on-Don, Russian Federation. 2Ph.D. in Linguistics, Associate Professor, Department of Linguistics and Intercultural Communication, Rostov State University of Economics, Rostov-on-Don, Russian Federation. 3Lecturer, Department of Linguistics and Intercultural Communication, Rostov State University of Economics, Rostov-on-Don, Russian Federation, E-mail: [email protected] 4Ph.D., Associate Professor, Department of Linguistics and Intercultural Communication, Rostov State University of Economics, Rostov-on-Don, Russian Federation. T.V. Evsyukova, I.G. Barabanova, O.V. Glukhova, E.A. Cherednikova 137 1. Introduction There is unlikely to be any other culture that influenced so much on the formation of other European cultures, as the Greek culture.
    [Show full text]
  • The North Caucasus: the Challenges of Integration (III), Governance, Elections, Rule of Law
    The North Caucasus: The Challenges of Integration (III), Governance, Elections, Rule of Law Europe Report N°226 | 6 September 2013 International Crisis Group Headquarters Avenue Louise 149 1050 Brussels, Belgium Tel: +32 2 502 90 38 Fax: +32 2 502 50 38 [email protected] Table of Contents Executive Summary ................................................................................................................... i Recommendations..................................................................................................................... iii I. Introduction ..................................................................................................................... 1 II. Russia between Decentralisation and the “Vertical of Power” ....................................... 3 A. Federative Relations Today ....................................................................................... 4 B. Local Government ...................................................................................................... 6 C. Funding and budgets ................................................................................................. 6 III. Elections ........................................................................................................................... 9 A. State Duma Elections 2011 ........................................................................................ 9 B. Presidential Elections 2012 ......................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • Chapter V Specifics of Sustainable Rural Development in Resort Areas: Case of Caucasus Mineral Waters
    CHAPTER V SPECIFICS OF SUSTAINABLE RURAL DEVELOPMENT IN RESORT AREAS: CASE OF CAUCASUS MINERAL WATERS Anna IVOLGA, Alexander TRUKHACHEV ABSTRACT The chapter aims at overview of issued, related to specifics of sustain- able rural development in resort areas. There is the analysis of dynamics and current state of tourism and recreation sector of Stavropol Region of the Russian Federation and particularly the resort area of Caucasus Miner- al Waters. The chapter describes the recreational, resort and agricultural potential of the region, as well as discovers the major problems of its effec- tive utilization in the purposes of sustainable rural development. The central objective of this chapter is to present a review of how tourism and recre- ation may affect rural development, as well as to provide a critical analysis of main approaches to sustainable regional development by means of tour- ism. The paper points out that tourism should get more attention in respect of sustainable development of rural territories and recreational areas, and the expected benefits from tourism must be carefully assessed. KEY WORDS: resorts, sustainable development, recreation, rural ter- ritories INTRODUCTION In recent years, the role of tourism has become more recognized in the con- text of the sustainable regional development, which includes use of natural re- sources and the sector’s potential contribution to the economic growth of the region. The practice of tourism has the potential to assist in conserving natural areas, alleviating poverty in rural territories, empowering women, enhancing education, and improving the health and well being of local communities. But how tourism can assist in supporting and meeting these potential goals? Relevance of sustainable economic development of the certain region is in the necessity to create the conditions for sustainable development of economic sector and raise of living standards of rural people by means of the effective usage of the existing sanatorium, resort, touristic and recreational potential.
    [Show full text]
  • CHARLES UNIVERSITY in PRAGUE Master Thesis 2016 Karyna Loginova
    CHARLES UNIVERSITY IN PRAGUE FACULTY OF SOCIAL SCIENCES Institute of Political Science Department of International Relations Geopolitical Studies Master thesis 2016 Karyna Loginova CHARLES UNIVERSITY IN PRAGUE FACULTY OF SOCIAL SCIENCES Institute of Political Science Department of International Relations Geopolitical Studies Karyna Loginova Chechnya as Russia's dangerous frontier: On the Nature of Suicide Terrorism Master Thesis Prague 2016 Author: Karyna Loginova Supervisor: Mgr. et Mgr. Irena Valková, Ph.D. Academic Year: 2016/2017 Abstract Ever since World War II up to the 80`s the world had not witnessed any form of suicide terrorism. Since then the rate of such attacks have been growing on a global level. Nowadays, suicide terrorism is one of the most researched and still not fully explained syndromes that imposes threat to nations, societies, individuals, groups, governments and other parties. Many studies and analyses focus on determining the reasons and the motives for such acts, including the damages that suicide terrorism causes on global level. There have been multiple variables determined as key factors influencing suicide terrorism, including religion, political occupation, nationalism and many others, yet there is no single answer as to why organizations and/or individuals decide on such radical tactic. Thus, as a modern phenomenon, suicide terrorism triggers the analysis from several perspectives of the individual, organizational and psychological background. This master thesis deals with the case study of Chechen suicide terrorism and its implications in the studies of suicide terrorism. The main focus of the research is on determining main motives and reasons of Chechnya to use suicide bombing against Russia.
    [Show full text]
  • Research Journal of Pharmaceutical, Biological and Chemical Sciences
    ISSN: 0975-8585 Research Journal of Pharmaceutical, Biological and Chemical Sciences Development The Methods For Assessing The Effectiveness Of Business In The Region. Oksana Viktorovna Takhumova1*, Elenа Sergeevna Mezentseva2, Alla Aleksandrovna Mirokhina3, Inna Viktorovna Kushnareva4, and Anna Anatolievna Gorbachevа4. 1Kuban State Agrarian University named after I.T. Trubilin, 13 Kalinina str., Krasnodar 350044, Russia. 2North-Caucasus Federal University, Pushkin street, 1, Stavropol 355009, Russia. 3MIREA - Russian Technological University, branch in Stavropol, Kulakova Avenue, 8, Stavropol 355000, Russia. 4Don State Technical University, Institute of Service and Entrepreneurship (branch), Shevchenko str., 147, Rostov Region, Shakhty 346500, Russia. ABSTRACT The dynamism of the business sector, the emergence of new forms of entrepreneurship determine the search for new methodological approaches, allowing for a comprehensive assessment based on a variety of criteria that characterize various areas of business. A system of indicators has been developed, including an assessment of the structure, openness, conditions, and possibilities of functioning, price parameters, the scale and type of market, which made it possible to carry out a comprehensive analysis of the development of entrepreneurship in the consumer segment and to identify areas for further development. The paper substantiates the methodology for assessing the conduct of commercial activities based on indicators of efficiency levels. The results used two criteria for the optimal functioning of trade and costs - elements of the labor process. On the basis of the selected parameters, an integrating indicator of business performance in the region was obtained, which can also be used to evaluate the result of a single commercial enterprise. To determine the level of development of the supporting complex, a classification was made of the objects of the servicing system under investigation, as a result of which three groups with relevant characteristics were identified.
    [Show full text]
  • Stavropol-Auto
    Time to invest properly! Trade between We are interested IT-technology Russia and Japan in the development in 2017 of the following industries: Robotics about Manufacturing industry 15 Mechanical billion dollars Engineering Place in terms of foreign trade Communication For Japan, Russia For Russia, Japan Chemical is on the 15th place is on the 7th place industry Japanese investments in Russia Textile production The amount of direct in the level of investment of Optical Japanese companies elements for all years 1,5 billion dollars Tourism and entertainment Prospects for cooperation Localization of production is an effective tool for entering the Russian market Guarantees of infrastructure security and resource base Support of import substitution areas: Government support and project entering new sales markets support at all stages and increasing in sales of its implementation The selection of an individual territory, The conclusion of special investment contracts taking into account advantageous is a state guarantee of stability of tax logistical opportunities and regulatory conditions for the investor Support to reduce production costs through Provision of incentive measures the provision of government benefits at the federal and regional levels and preferences Our capabilities Cooperation with leading enterprises Agroindustrial complex Automobile industry High tech Products for daily use Stavropol-Auto Joint Russian-Chinese project One of the fastest growing Assembly of cars of the Great Wall brand large producers and the Italian IVECO
    [Show full text]
  • The Caucasus Globalization
    Volume 6 Issue 4 2012 1 THE CAUCASUS & GLOBALIZATION INSTITUTE OF STRATEGIC STUDIES OF THE CAUCASUS THE CAUCASUS & GLOBALIZATION Journal of Social, Political and Economic Studies Conflicts in the Caucasus: History, Present, and Prospects for Resolution Special Issue Volume 6 Issue 4 2012 CA&CC Press® SWEDEN 2 Volume 6 Issue 4 2012 FOUNDEDTHE CAUCASUS AND& GLOBALIZATION PUBLISHED BY INSTITUTE OF STRATEGIC STUDIES OF THE CAUCASUS Registration number: M-770 Ministry of Justice of Azerbaijan Republic PUBLISHING HOUSE CA&CC Press® Sweden Registration number: 556699-5964 Registration number of the journal: 1218 Editorial Council Eldar Chairman of the Editorial Council (Baku) ISMAILOV Tel/fax: (994 12) 497 12 22 E-mail: [email protected] Kenan Executive Secretary (Baku) ALLAHVERDIEV Tel: (994 – 12) 596 11 73 E-mail: [email protected] Azer represents the journal in Russia (Moscow) SAFAROV Tel: (7 495) 937 77 27 E-mail: [email protected] Nodar represents the journal in Georgia (Tbilisi) KHADURI Tel: (995 32) 99 59 67 E-mail: [email protected] Ayca represents the journal in Turkey (Ankara) ERGUN Tel: (+90 312) 210 59 96 E-mail: [email protected] Editorial Board Nazim Editor-in-Chief (Azerbaijan) MUZAFFARLI Tel: (994 – 12) 510 32 52 E-mail: [email protected] (IMANOV) Vladimer Deputy Editor-in-Chief (Georgia) PAPAVA Tel: (995 – 32) 24 35 55 E-mail: [email protected] Akif Deputy Editor-in-Chief (Azerbaijan) ABDULLAEV Tel: (994 – 12) 596 11 73 E-mail: [email protected] Volume 6 IssueMembers 4 2012 of Editorial Board: 3 THE CAUCASUS & GLOBALIZATION Zaza D.Sc.
    [Show full text]
  • Business Geography
    RUS ABOUT US PRESS-CENTER INVESTOR RELATIONS CONTACTS BUSINESS SEGMENTS BUSINESS GEOGRAPHY BUSINESS GEOGRAPHY Activity Show Map ALTAI REPUBLIC Region SHIPUNOVSKY ELEVATOR OJSC Address: 658390, Altai Krai, w.v. Shipynovo, Lunacharsky St, 86. Tel.: (38550) 22-7-72, 22-0-54, 22-3-72. Main Production: Grain BELGOROD OBLAST ALEXEYEVKA-AGROINVEST LLC Address: 309852, Belgorod region, Alexeyevka, Molodezhnaya St, 110. Tel.: (47234) 2-51-00, 2-57-02 Main Production: Grain and techniсal сulture GRAIVORON-AGROINVEST LLC Address: 309376, Belgorod region., Graivoronsky district, village of Dorogosch, Sovetskaya St, 6. Tel.: (47261) 4-11-93, 4-11-31 Main Production: Grain and techniсal сulture OJSC IN THE NAME OF GENERAL VATUTIN Address: 309992, Belgorod region, Valuiki, Nikolskaya St, 34a, Tel. (fax) 8 (47236) 3 16 0. Main Production: Grain and techniсal сulture ALEXEYEVSKY SUGAR PLANT CJSC Address: 309852, Belgorod region, Alexeyevsky district, Alexeyevka, Sverdlov St, 2. Tel.: (47234) 2-51-70, 2-51-60 Main Production: Sugar BOLSHEVIK SUGAR PLANT CJSC Address: 309377, Belgorod region., Graivoronsky district, village of Golovchino, Tsentralnaya St, 7. Tel.:(47261)3-56-66,3-53-35. Main Production: Sugar IVANOVO OBLAST KINESHMA FLOUR MILL OJSC Address: 155806, Ivanovo region, Kineshma, Marshal Vasilevsky St, 1. Tel.: (09331) 5-82-41, 2-18-81 Tel/fax: 5-82-33 (84345) 2-13-77, 6-00-88 Main Production: Grain, Flour KARACHAY-CHERKESS REPUBLIC KARACHAY-CHERKESSIA FLOUR MILLER CJSC Address: 369000, Karachay-Cherkess Republic, Cherkessk, Pervaya Podgornaya St, 7. Tel.: (87822) 5-19-06 Fax: (87822) 5-05-26. Main Production: Grain, Flour KARACHAY-CHERKESSIA SUGAR PLANT OJSC Address: 369340, Republic of Karachay-Cherkessia, Nogaysky district, village of Erkin-Shakhar, Academician Agaygeldiyev St, 8.
    [Show full text]
  • Subject of the Russian Federation)
    How to use the Atlas The Atlas has two map sections The Main Section shows the location of Russia’s intact forest landscapes. The Thematic Section shows their tree species composition in two different ways. The legend is placed at the beginning of each set of maps. If you are looking for an area near a town or village Go to the Index on page 153 and find the alphabetical list of settlements by English name. The Cyrillic name is also given along with the map page number and coordinates (latitude and longitude) where it can be found. Capitals of regions and districts (raiony) are listed along with many other settlements, but only in the vicinity of intact forest landscapes. The reader should not expect to see a city like Moscow listed. Villages that are insufficiently known or very small are not listed and appear on the map only as nameless dots. If you are looking for an administrative region Go to the Index on page 185 and find the list of administrative regions. The numbers refer to the map on the inside back cover. Having found the region on this map, the reader will know which index map to use to search further. If you are looking for the big picture Go to the overview map on page 35. This map shows all of Russia’s Intact Forest Landscapes, along with the borders and Roman numerals of the five index maps. If you are looking for a certain part of Russia Find the appropriate index map. These show the borders of the detailed maps for different parts of the country.
    [Show full text]
  • Dissertation Final Aug 31 Formatted
    Identity Gerrymandering: How the Armenian State Constructs and Controls “Its” Diaspora by Kristin Talinn Rebecca Cavoukian A thesis submitted in conformity with the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy Department of Political Science University of Toronto © Copyright by Kristin Cavoukian 2016 Identity Gerrymandering: How the Armenian State Constructs and Controls “Its” Diaspora Kristin Talinn Rebecca Cavoukian Doctor of Philosophy Department of Political Science University of Toronto 2016 Abstract This dissertation examines the Republic of Armenia (RA) and its elites’ attempts to reframe state-diaspora relations in ways that served state interests. After 17 years of relatively rocky relations, in 2008, a new Ministry of Diaspora was created that offered little in the way of policy output. Instead, it engaged in “identity gerrymandering,” broadening the category of diaspora from its accepted reference to post-1915 genocide refugees and their descendants, to include Armenians living throughout the post-Soviet region who had never identified as such. This diluted the pool of critical, oppositional diasporans with culturally closer and more compliant emigrants. The new ministry also favoured geographically based, hierarchical diaspora organizations, and “quiet” strategies of dissent. Since these were ultimately attempts to define membership in the nation, and informal, affective ties to the state, the Ministry of Diaspora acted as a “discursive power ministry,” with boundary-defining and maintenance functions reminiscent of the physical border policing functions of traditional power ministries. These efforts were directed at three different “diasporas:” the Armenians of Russia, whom RA elites wished to mold into the new “model” diaspora, the Armenians of Georgia, whose indigeneity claims they sought to discourage, and the “established” western diaspora, whose contentious public ii critique they sought to disarm.
    [Show full text]