Drafting the Russian Nation: Military Conscription, Total War, and Mass Politics, 19051925 (NIU Series in Slavic, East European, and Eurasian Studies)

How did Russia develop a modern national identity, and what role did the military play? Sanborn examines tsarist and Soviet armies of the early twentieth century to show how military conscription helped to bind citizens and soldiers into a modern political community. The experience of total war, he shows, provided the means by which this multiethnic and multiclass community was constructed and tested. __Drafting the Russian Nation__ is the first archivally based study of the relationship between military conscription and nation-building in a European country. Stressing the importance of violence to national political consciousness, Sanborn shows how national identity was formed and maintained through the organized practice of violence. The cultural dimensions of the "military body" are explored as well, especially in relation to the nationalization of masculinity. The process of nation-building set in motion by military reformers culminated in World War I, when ethnically diverse conscripts fought together in total war to preserve their national territory. In the ensuing Civil War, the army's effort was directed mainly toward killing the political opposition within the "nation." While these complex conflicts enabled the Bolsheviks to rise to power, the massive violence of war even more fundamentally constituted national political life. Not all minorities were easily assimilated. The attempt to conscript natives of Central Asia for military service in 1916 proved disastrous, for example. Jews, also identified as non-nationals, were conscripted but suffered intense discrimination within the armed forces because they were deemed to be inherently unreliable and potentially disloyal. __Drafting the Russian Nation__ is rich with insights into the relation of war to national life. Students of war and society in the twentieth century will find much of interest in this provocative study. Drafting The Russian Nation Is The First Archivally Based Study Of The Relationship Between Military Conscription And Nation-building In A European Country. Stressing The Importance Of Violence To National Political Consciousness, It Shows How National Identity Was Formed And Maintained Through The Organized Practice Of Violence. The Cultural Dimensions Of The Military Body Are Explored As Well, Especially In Relation To The Nationalization Of Masculinity. The Process Of Nation-building Set In Motion By Military Reformers Culminated In World War I, When Ethnically Diverse Conscripts Fought Together In Total War To Preserve Their National Territory. In The Ensuing Civil War, The Army's Effort Was Directed Mainly Toward Killing The Political Opposition Within The Nation. While These Complex Conflicts Enabled The Bolsheviks To Rise To Power, The Massive Violence Of War Even More Fundamentally Constituted National Political Life. Not All Minorities Were Easily Assimilated. The Attempt To Conscript Natives Of Central Asia For Military Service In 1916 Proved Disastrous, For Example. Jews, Also Identified As Non-nationals, Were Conscripted But Suffered Intense Discrimination Within The Armed Forces Because They Were Deemed To Be Inherently Unreliable And Potentially Disloyal. Drafting The Russian Nation Is Rich With Insights Into The Relation Of War To National Life. Students Of War And Society In The Twentieth Century Will Find Much Of Interest In This Provocative Study.--jacket. Forming The National Compact -- The Nation And The Dilemma Of Difference -- The Nation And The Challenge Of Unity -- The Nationalization Of Masculinity -- Violence And The Nation. Joshua A. Sanborn. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [257]-270) And Index. "Drafting the Russian Nation is the first archivally based study of the relationship between military conscription and nation-building in a European country. Stressing the importance of violence to national political consciousness, it shows how national identity was formed and maintained through the organized practice of violence. The cultural dimensions of the "military body" are explored as well, especially in relation to the nationalization of masculinity.". "The process of nation-building set in motion by military reformers culminated in World War I, when ethnically diverse conscripts fought together in total war to preserve their national territory. In the ensuing Civil War, the army's effort was directed mainly toward killing the political opposition within the "nation." While these complex conflicts enabled the Bolsheviks to rise to power, the massive violence of war even more fundamentally constituted national political life.". "Not all minorities were easily assimilated. The attempt to conscript natives of Central Asia for military service in 1916 proved disastrous, for example. Jews, also identified as non-nationals, were conscripted but suffered intense discrimination within the armed forces because they were deemed to be inherently unreliable and potentially disloyal.". "Drafting the Russian Nation is rich with insights into the relation of war to national life. Students of war and society in the twentieth century will find much of interest in this provocative study."--BOOK JACKET. This is an archivally based study of the relationship between military conscription and nation-building in a European country. Stressing the importance of violence to national political consciousness, it shows how national identity was formed and maintained through the organized violence. Examines how compulsory military service in Russia during the early years of the twentieth century created a multiethnic, multi-class entity that embodied the Russian nation.