The Idea of Siberian Regionalism in Late Imperial and Revolutionary Russia·

Refugees and diaspora nationalism: national activists in Estonian settlements in Siberia and non-territorial autonomy between 1917 and 1920

“…The main political group that advocated various forms of self-determination was the Siberian regionalists ( oblastniki ) (Pereira 1996 ; 18, 29; Watrous, Diment, and Slezkine 1993 , 113–116). Their agenda included raising local consciousness and guaranteeing Siberia a proper place in the Russian federation (Pereira 1993 ; 165–169; Watrous, Diment, and Slezkine 1993 , 118). In new political circumstances after the February Revolution, this movement experienced a revival, and circles in Tomsk called for various forms of autonomy for Siberia (Watrous, Diment, and Slezkine 1993 , 128–129).…”

“…This body was to carry political sovereignty until the convocation of a Siberian Constituent Assembly (Pereira 1996 ; 33–35; Serebrennikov 1934 , 407–408). At this time and in early winter 1918, popular support belonged to the Socialist-Revolutionaries who gained overwhelming support in the elections to the All-Russian Constituent Assembly (Pereira 1993 , 170). The Siberian regionalist movement was strongly influenced by them and their demand for non-territorial autonomy can be traced back to the Socialist-Revolutionaries (Nam, 2009 , 175–184; Serebrennikov 1934 , 409).…”

“…Studies have argued that regionalism never became a ‘common coin’ because the movement was mainly aimed at the urban intelligentsia in Tomsk. Nevertheless, some circles, such as the inorodtsy (aliens) intelligentsia and middle peasants, had regionalist sympathies (Pereira 1996 , 29; Pereira 1993 , 176). This question was similar in Estonian communities because there were divisions between the older settlers and the newly arrived ones.…”