Identity in Formation: The Russian-Speaking Populations in the Near Abroad (Wilder House Series in Politics, History, and Culture)

Identity in Formation The Russian-Speaking Populations in the New Abroad David D. Laitin Cornell University Press | The Wilder House Series in Politics, History and Culture Paperback - $36.95 Description Reviews Detailed info Winner of the 1999 Wayne S. Vucinich Prize (American Association for the Advancement of Slavic Studies) Winner of the 1999 Mattei Dogan Award for the Best Comparativist Book of the Year Winner of the 1999 David Easton Award and 1999 Gregory Luebbert Awar Since the collapse of the Soviet Union, nationality groups have claimed sovereignty in the new republics bearing their names. With the ascendance of these titular nationality groups, Russian speakers living in the post-Soviet republics face a radical crisis of identity. That crisis is at the heart of David D. Laitin's book. Laitin portrays these Russian speakers as a "beached diaspora" since the populations did not cross international borders; the borders themselves receded. He asks what will become of these populations. Will they learn the languages of the republics in which they live and prepare their children for assimilation? Will they return to a homeland many have never seen? Or will they become loyal citizens of the new republics while maintaining a Russian identity? Through questions such as these and on the basis of ethnographic field research, discourse analysis, and mass surveys, Laitin analyzes trends in four post-Soviet republics: Estonia, Latvia, Kazakhstan, and Ukraine. Laitin concludes that the "Russian-speaking population" is a new category of identity in the post-Soviet world. This conglomerate identity of those who share a language is analogous, Laitin suggests, to such designations as "Palestinian" in the Middle East and "Hispanic" in the United States. The development of this new identity has implications both for the success of the national projects in these states and for interethnic peace. Since The Collapse Of The Soviet Union, Nationality Groups Have Claimed Sovereignty In The New Republics Bearing Their Names. With The Ascendance Of These Titular Nationality Groups, Russian-speakers Living In The Post-soviet Republics Face A Radical Crisis Of Identity. That Crisis Is At The Heart Of David D. Laitin's Book. Laitin Portrays These Russian-speakers As A Beached Diaspora Since The Populations Did Not Cross International Borders; The Borders Themselves Receded. He Asks What Will Become Of These Populations. Will They Learn The Languages Of The Republics In Which They Live And Prepare Their Children For Assimilation? Will They Return To A Homeland Many Have Never Seen? Or Will They Become Loyal Citizens Of The New Republics While Maintaining A Russian Identity? On The Basis Of Ethnographic Field Research, Discourse Analysis, And Mass Surveys, Laitin Analyzes Trends In Estonia, Latvia, Kazakhstan, And Ukraine. Pt. 1. Introduction. 1. A Theory Of Political Identities. 2. Why The Peripheral Peoples Did Not Become Russians. 3. Three Patterns Of Peripheral Incorporation -- Pt. 2. An Ethnography Of The Double Cataclysm. 4. The Double Cataclysm. 5. Family Strategies In Response To The Cataclysm. 6. If Not Assimilation, Then What? -- Pt. 3. The Russian Response: Assimilation. 7. Assimilation: Survey Results. 8. Calculating Linguistic Status: An Experiment. 9. Turning Megalomanians Into Ruritanians -- Pt. 4. Nationalism And Identity Shift. 10. The Russian-speaking Nationality In Formation. 11. Russian Nationalism In Russia And The Near Abroad -- Pt. 5. Extensions Of The Analysis. 12. Identity And Ethnic Violence. David D. Laitin. Includes Bibliographical References And Indexes.

Since the collapse of the Soviet Union, nationality groups have claimed sovereignty in the new republics bearing their names. With the ascendance of these titular nationality groups, Russian speakers living in the post-Soviet republics face a radical crisis of identity. That crisis is at the heart of David D. Laitin's keenly awaited book.

Laitin portrays these Russian speakers as a beached diaspora since the populations did not cross international borders; the borders themselves receded. He asks what will become of these populations. Will they learn the languages of the republics in which they live and prepare their children for assimilation? Will they return to a homeland many have never seen? Or will they become loyal citizens of the new republics while maintaining a Russian identity? Through questions such as these and on the basis of ethnographic field research, discourse analysis, and mass surveys, Laitin analyzes trends in four post-Soviet republics: Estonia, Latvia, Kazakhstan, and Ukraine.

Laitin concludes that the Russian-speaking population is a new category of identity in the post-Soviet world. This conglomerate identity of those who share a language is analogous, Laitin suggests, to such designations as Palestinian in the Middle East and Hispanic in the United States. The development of this new identity has implications both for the success of the national projects in these states and for interethnic peace.

Since the collapse of the Soviet Union, nationality groups have claimed sovereignty in the new republics bearing their names. With the ascendance of these titular nationality groups, Russian speakers living in the post-Soviet republics face a radical crisis of identity. That crisis is at the heart of David D. Laitin's keenly awaited book. Laitin portrays these Russian speakers as a "beached diaspora" since the populations did not cross international borders; the borders themselves receded. He asks what will become of these populations. Will they learn the languages of the republics in which they live and prepare their children for assimilation? Will they return to a homeland many have never seen? Or will they become loyal citizens of the new republics while maintaining a Russian identity? Through questions such as these and on the basis of ethnographic field research, discourse analysis, and mass surveys, Laitin analyzes trends in four post-Soviet Estonia, Latvia, Kazakhstan, and Ukraine. Laitin concludes that the "Russian-speaking population" is a new category of identity in the post-Soviet world. This conglomerate identity of those who share a language is analogous, Laitin suggests, to such designations as "Palestinian" in the Middle East and "Hispanic" in the United States. The development of this new identity has implications both for the success of the national projects in these states and for interethnic peace. Preface(page ix) A Note on Transliteration and Terms(page xiv) Part One Introduction(page 1) 1. A Theory of Political Identities(page 3) 2. Why the Peripheral Peoples Did Not Become Russians(page 36) 3. Three Patterns of Peripheral Incorporation(page 59) Part Two An Ethnography of the Double Cataclysm(page 83) 4. The Double Cataclysm(page 85) 5. Family Strategies in Response to the Cataclysm(page 105) 6. If Not Assimilation, Then What?(page 158) Part Three The Russian Response: Assimilation(page 199) 7. Assimilation: Survey Results(page 201) 8. Calculating Linguistic Status: An Experiment(page 217) 9. Turning Megalomanians into Ruritanians(page 243) Part Four Nationalism and Identity Shift(page 261) 10. The Russian-Speaking Nationality in Formation(page 263) 11. Russian Nationalism in Russia and the Near Abroad(page 300) Part Five Extensions of the Analysis(page 323) 12. Identity and Ethnic Violence(page 325) 13. Future Trajectories of Nation and State(page 346) Methodological Appendix(page 365) Authorities Consulted(page 401) Subject Index(page 405)