Modernization and Traditionality in a Multiethnic Society: The Soviet Case

Jones, Ellen; Grupp, Fred W.

doi:10.2307/1956661

Cited by 4 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 38 publications

(24 reference statements)

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“…On the one hand, there are numerous ideologically inspired celebrations of the achievements of Soviet-style modernization, pointing, among other things, to the emancipation of women, universal literacy, and the triumph of Soviet forms of expression over "traditional" cultures. English-language reviews of Soviet sources, such as Silver (1992) and Jones and Grupp (1992), reveal themes that are thoroughly familiar to any reader well versed in the Parsonian variants of Western modernization theory. In addition to those, transcending national particularisms through assimilation into "Soviet" culture is presented as the highest point of modernization, and indicators of success are elaborated on in numerous writings on so-called cultural convergence (see, for instance, Dunn and Dunn 1973).…”

Section: S Ov I E T M O D E R N I Z At I O N I N C E N T R a L A S I mentioning

confidence: 99%

Post-Colonialism Compared: Potentials and Limitations in the Middle East and Central Asia

Kandiyoti¹

2002

Int. J. Middle East Stud.

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The term “post-colonial” is a relative newcomer to the jargon of Western social science. Although discussions about the effects of colonial and imperialist domination are by no means new, the various meanings attached to the prefix “post-” and different understandings of what characterizes the post-colonial continue to make this term a controversial one. Among the criticisms leveled against it, reviewed comprehensively by Hall (1996), are the dangers of careless homogenizing of experiences as disparate as those of white settler colonies, such as Australia and Canada; of the Latin American continent, whose independence battles were fought in the 19th century; and countries such as India, Nigeria, or Algeria that emerged from very different colonial encounters in the post-World War II era. He suggests, nevertheless, that “What the concept may help us to do is to describe or characterise the shift in global relations which marks the (necessarily uneven) transition from the age of Empires to the post-independence and post-decolonisation moment” (Hall 1996, 246). Rattansi (1997) proposes a distinction between “post-coloniality” to designate a set of historical epochs and “post-colonialism” or “post-colonialist studies” to refer to a particular form of intellectual inquiry that has as its central defining theme the mutually constitutive role played by colonizer and colonized in shaping the identities of both the dominant power and those at the receiving end of imperial and colonial projects. Within the field of post-colonial studies itself, Moore-Gilbert (1997) points to the divide between “post-colonial criticism,” which has much earlier antecedents in the writings of those involved in anti-colonial struggles, and “post-colonial theory,” which distinguishes itself from the former by the incoporation of methodological paradigms derived from contemporary European cultural theories into discussions of colonial systems of representation and cultural production. Whatever the various interpretations of the term or the various temporalities associated with it might be, Hall claims that the post-colonial “marks a critical interruption into that grand whole historiographical narrative which, in liberal historiography and Weberian historical sociology, as much as in the dominant traditions of Western Marxism, gave this global dimension a subordinate presence in a story that could essentially be told from its European parameters” (Hall 1996, 250). In what follows, I will attempt a brief discussion of some of the circumstances leading to the emergence of this concept and interrogate the extent to which it lends itself to a meaningful comparison of the modern trajectories of societies in the Middle East and Central Asia.

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Section: S Ov I E T M O D E R N I Z At I O N I N C E N T R a L A S I mentioning

confidence: 99%

Post-Colonialism Compared: Potentials and Limitations in the Middle East and Central Asia

Kandiyoti¹

2002

Int. J. Middle East Stud.

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“…A testimony to the continued importance of this issue can be found in a recent comment by the USSR's most well-known student of ethnic relations, Uri Bromlei, that in "several republics the younger generation today knows the Russian language worse than the older generation." 16 Some scholars have focused on socialization, 17 others on modernization, 18 others on cultural and religious practices, 19 cultural trends, 20 others on the activity of the regional or "national" elite. 21 The sociooccupational structure of the various republics has attracted analysis determined to identify the extent of economic specialization by region, and to explore the Downloaded by ["Queen's University Libraries, Kingston"] at 04:00 03 February 2015 implications of differential opportunities which follow from regionalization policies.…”

Section: National Sentiment and Migration In Soviet Central Asia Gregmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Agricultural Development In Central Asiamentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Over 60 percent of the young people completing school went to work in agriculture in 1981. 38 In 1968only 35 percent ofyouth (ages [15][16][17][18][19] worked in agriculture." Seven years later this had risen to almost 45 percents" Even these figures showing high participation may underrepresent actual native participation in the APK Not all ofthe rural work force is classified as agricultural in Soviet sources.…”

Section: Agricultural Development In Central Asiamentioning

confidence: 99%

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National Sentiment and Migration in Soviet Central Asia

Gleason¹

1987

Natl. pap.

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The Program of the CPSU adopted at the 27th Party Congress (1986) included a guarded reference to the nationality question. It observed that the “nationality question, as it has been inheritedfrom the past, has been successfully solved.” This reference to nationality problems as a remnant of the fading capitalist past was not designed to suggest that problems of a national character have ceased to exist in the Soviet Union today. Gorbachev made this point to the Congress delegates noting: “Our achievements should not create the impression that there are no complications in nationality processes. The contradictions characteristic of all development are unavoidable in this sphere as well.” The violent outbursts of a national character in Kazakhstan in December 1986 provide fresh evidence that ethnic tensions lurk just beneath the surface. These tensions have been held in check largely by the threat of reprisals from central authorities who have regarded meaningful expressions of nationalism as treasonous.

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“…On the one hand, we have numerous ideologically inspired celebrations of the achievements of Soviet-style modernization pointing, among other things, to the emancipation of women, universal literacy and the triumph of Soviet forms of expression over 'traditional' cultures. English language reviews of Soviet sources, such as Silver (1992) and Jones and Grupp (1992), reveal themes that are thoroughly familiar to any reader well versed in the Parsonian variants of Western modernization theory. Transcending national particularisms through assimilation into 'Soviet' culture is presented as the highest point of modernization and indicators of success are elaborated upon in numerous writings on so-called 'cultural convergence' (see, for instance, Dunn and Dunn 1973).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Modernization without the market? The case of the ‘Soviet East’

Kandiyoti¹

1996

Economy and Society

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Modernization and Traditionality in a Multiethnic Society: The Soviet Case

Cited by 4 publications

References 38 publications

Post-Colonialism Compared: Potentials and Limitations in the Middle East and Central Asia

Post-Colonialism Compared: Potentials and Limitations in the Middle East and Central Asia

National Sentiment and Migration in Soviet Central Asia

Modernization without the market? The case of the ‘Soviet East’

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