S. Markedonov. Turbulent Eurasia. Interethnic, civil conflicts, xenophobia in new independent states of post-Soviet area. Moscow bureau for human rights, 2010.

One of the most difficult tasks encountered by political scientists and ethnologists is to provide an objective estimate of history and reasons for interethnic conflicts. There are no the absolutely right and the absolutely guilty in such conflicts. They usually have their roots in the past and a mass of social-economic, political and religious factors that are almost impossible to be disentangled completely affects their aggravation. Besides, a lot depends on the personality of the political scientist himself. For example, it can be said with big credibility that official political scientists of Armenia put the principal blame for Karabakh conflict upon Azerbaijan and on the contrary official political scientists of Azerbaijan – upon Armenia. Of course the opposition political science and ethnology exist – but they are also usually politically committed, only with an opposite sign. Thus, during recent South-Ossetin conflict the radical Russian opposition put the whole blame upon the Russian leaders while the Georgian opposition – upon the president Saakashvili. Not just the official status of political scientists, their closeness to authorities or remoteness from the latter should be underestimated but also the individual scholarly estimates, access to some sources of information and finally their inevitable personal partialities. Sergey Markedonov notes absolutely fairly concerning the final report of the International commission for collection of facts on the conflict in Georgia: “…The liked fragments from this document would be quoted by politicians and diplomats from various countries for substantiation of correctness of the “right position” while the “inconvenient places” would be either not noticed at all or would be interpreted as “separate defects not affecting the general estimate of the factful work”. However this is the fate of practically any report combining the features of an academic study and political document”. It should be added: not just politicians and diplomats but also ethno-political scientists.

In this concern there are very few really analytical works the authors of which preserve the utmost objectiveness and necessary detachment toward the subjects of study. The ethno-political scientists or, if you like, scientists-specialists in the field of ethnic conflicts whose works seem unbiased and persuasive to the readers who are not politically committed can be counted on our fingers.

S. Markedonov can be no doubt named among the first of the mentioned authors. His book “Turbulent Eurasia” seems to be able to serve a model example of modern thoughtful, scientific-objective approach. The author set an enormous task for himself: to interpret the history, reasons, course and consequences of practically all the conflicts on the territory of the former USSR. And these are not just ethnic domestic and interstate conflicts but also serious geopolitical and military-economic controversies (Crimean problem, fate of the Black Sea fleet). The author also makes the international situation Russia found itself in subject to a serious analysis in the context of Caucasian events, South-Ossetin conflict, and recognition of independence of Abkhazia and South Ossetia on the background of a political precedent with Kosovo. The reader is introduced into the widest range of controversies and conflicts where he gets to know the details of not just well-known tragedies that left never-healing wounds in the lives of dozens and hundreds thousand people (Chechen war) but also rather little-known conflicts – like for example the situation in Gagauzia.

The work by S. Markedonov consists of three parts. The first one interprets the preconditions of interethnic conflicts in the USSR. In his analysis the author does not start from the initial data of proclamation of a new federative state, the USSR, but connects the Soviet imperial approach with imperial approach of tsarist Russia where long-term geopolitics was of the most contradictory character. Annexing new territories, modernizing the outskirts and terminating local conflicts, at the same time Russia destroyed the traditional habitat and economic lifestyle of ethnic communities. In this respect the author thinks that Russian empire and Soviet empire were close typologically: policy of “metropolitan country” towards the “periphery” was based upon similar principles – the “streamlining and homogenization” of poly-ethnic and poly-religious society created preconditions for conflict and controversial situations. The USSR received the most complicated and contradictory ethno-territorial heritage from tsarist Russia, and the federative state was built in it basing upon the foundations that included the proneness to conflict already initially: artificial territorial-political division not corresponding to realities that were formed historically, policy of “indigenization” and Russianization etc. Discontent and ethnic-religious tension and sometimes hostility were of a latent character, and in case of their manifestations they were cruelly suppressed by metropolitan country and its local henchmen.

After the collapse of the Soviet Union all the hidden conflicts became openly apparent and were aggravated by new political realities. The situation of poly-ethnicity on the territories of former Soviet republics remained but it was already impossible to control it in new territorial-state units centrally. The hardest economic situation, corruption of elites aggravated the situation greatly, and the points of the former USSR became the “hot points”.

In the second part of the book the author describes the typology of conflicts, and he reviews the specific examples within it later. As any conflict is the most complicated and complex phenomenon, for the analysis of the conflict it is necessary to clarify its aspects and reasons: everyday, ethno-religious, territorial controversies etc. The conflict may bу of open military but also of “frozen” character – in the second case one can by no means speak about its absence. The main author’s conclusion here is that on the territory of the former Soviet Union “the borderline between the “frozen” conflict and military operations is easily surmountable”. This conclusion being a little flowery can be formulated in a different way: the seemingly “frozen”, suspended conflict may turn into the armed one any time – and in this connection special caution and attentive analysis of situation are necessary in interethnic sphere.

Later on, in the third part, the author passes on to specific description of various conflicts in republics of the former USSR. It should be noted again, without going into concrete details, that S. Markedonov’s analysis seems exceptionally objective, unbiased and most useful – as just understanding of real roots and peculiarities of the conflict may serve its further overcoming. In many cases the author’s position is not full of optimism – he tells frankly that the no-win situation was created and one can’t foresee its solution in nearest future. In full measure this concerns for example the North Caucasus where interests of many elites clash. In Chechnya, where the policy of “Chechenization” of authority promoted the end of the war to a great extent it leads at the same time to slackening of influence of the center upon Chechnya and to increase of its political-legal isolation. The prospects of such situation are unclear, and the author makes no forecasts for the future.

A whole section of the book is devoted to the subject of anti-Semitism on the territory of the former USSR (again with division into new independent states). The author’s analysis seems accurate and objective again though the question appears whether it was necessary to mark out the problem of anti-Semitism especially among other xenophobias. However anti-Semitism is the only one of xenophobias being of historically universal character both in the world and on the territory of the former USSR so corresponding arguments in favor of a special section concerning it can be found. Special sections are also devoted to the situation in Ingushetia and in the North Caucasus being the most dangerously conflict territories of Russia. The author-Russian of course pays special attention to Russian problems speaking rather about possible directions of search for solutions than proposing the ready answers – though many other researchers are inclined to this.

No doubt the professional historians and ethnologists would find the subjects for dispute with S. Markedonov, and this is supposed in science. But this does not cancel the fact that the book “Turbulent Eurasia” is rich with facts, has distinct logical structure and moreover is written clearly and understandably. And it may be a very good help for those implementing the geopolitical projects, combating against xenophobia and building the new federative Russia. This is a book that should be read both by specialists and by the widest range of readers. 
 
 

“I was deprived of my house but I can’t be deprived of my future” 
 

  Representation of the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees invites young designers to take part in creative contest 

  “I was deprived of my house but I can’t be deprived of my future”

  on the threshold of International refugee day on June 20, 2010 

At present several million people all around the world are deprived of a roof over their heads and have to escape from persecution in an alien country or in other regions of their countries. At present there are more than 8 000 persons who are looking for refuge, who got temporary refuge and refugees on the territory of Russia. These people include the victims of conflicts in South Ossetia and Abkhazia of 1992 and 2008, former state officials and intellectuals of Afghanistan who had to escape from the country after establishment of authority of the Talibs, residents of Iraq, Afghani orphans brought to Russia 15 years ago, Afghani students who studied in the USSR and who could not return to their motherland for various reasons (war, coup d’état, environmental disaster). A center of collective residence or a room in an alien city serves as their home for a long time. 

About 80 thousand Russian citizens, mostly in the North Caucasus, are the persons displaced within the country and live with their relatives and friends or in collective centers for decades hoping to acquire their homes again someday. They are all anxious concerning the fate of their children, their education, health and future. 

On June 20, on the International refugee day, the UN Refugee Agency calls to recalling that refugees are not faceless statistics but these are real people living side by side with us, and each person has his its history. The subject of International refugee day of 2010 is “HOME” and the motto is “I was deprived of my house but I can’t be deprived of my future”. 

Don’t be indifferent 

A poster is a real tool for informing and attracting attention of general audience to the fates of people deprived of their shelter, people who need our understanding, respect and support. 

The mission of a designer is to create a poster and to express his opinion concerning the subject of the International refugee day “I was deprived of my house but I can’t be deprived of my future”. 

The refugee is not a vagabond, not an outcast, not an alien, not a looser. The refugee is the same like we are and deserves every respect. 

The jury includes: G. Karrenbrock (Representative of the UNHCR in Russian Federation), A.S. Brod (Director of Moscow bureau for human rights, member of the Public chamber of RF), T.L. Lineva (Chairman of St. Petersburg branch of Russian Red Cross), Yu.A. Goryachev (Chairman of the Center of interethnic education “Ethnosphere”, head of department of UNESCO of Moscow institute of open education), the representative of the Federal Migratory Service of Russia as well as famous figures of culture and art, specialist-designer and curators of exhibition. 
 

Time-frame of reception of works, contact addresses, persons 

  The works in electronic form should be sent to the officer in charge of the project to the address: Этот e-mail адрес защищен от спам-ботов, для его просмотра у Вас должен быть включен Javascript with a note “Refugees” till May 24, 2010. 

  Exhibition of posters will take place on June 15-22 in Moscow. 

  Prizes 

  Valuable prizes are expecting the winners who would occupy first 3 places.

  First prize – scholarship for training in the Ninth summer school of graphic design (VAShGD) in July 2010.

  Second prize – device for development of tactile skills of designer: plotting board Wacom Intous

  Third prize – multifunctional device printer-scanner-copier. 

  The best works would be exhibited on English-language and Russian-language website of the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees – www.unhcr.org and www.unhcr.ru where they would be seen by residents of various countries of the world. 

  Besides, the contest winners will also get a chance to participate in the annual informational campaign of postcards held by UNHCR in Moscow and St. Petersburg. 

  Technical requirements to the works 

  File with size of 1000 pixs along the bigger side, jpg.

  Information for the participant questionnaire: name and surname, city, e-mail, contact phone number.

  Please send this everything to the address: Этот e-mail адрес защищен от спам-ботов, для его просмотра у Вас должен быть включен Javascript with a note “Refugees/UN” 

  Be ready to send operatively the work of high quality for printing.