Identity and Politics in Muslim Republics of Russia: A Case Study of Dagestan and Tatarstan

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Abstract

This article investigates the role played by ethnic structures in Russia and in particular Tatarstan (bi-ethnicity) and Dagestan (multi-ethnicity) in determining ethnic identity of these two republics. Islam has either strengthened ethnic distinction (in Tatarstan) or led to extreme prejudice (in Dagestan). The article raises the following question: how could ethnic and religious identities bemobilized to construct modern civil identities at political level? This is while Islam is generally considered as a force that could revive traditions. The other research questions include: Has unifying capacity of Islam in Dagestan helped the formation of an integrated kind of republic in a multi-ethnic society? Have the elites succeeded in creating a sense of belonging to Tatarstan among the Russian minorities? The study also examines the role played by the Russian population in each of these Republics.The study also examines the role played by the Russian population in each of these Republics( Tatarstan and Dagestan).

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