Paul
Goble
Staunton, April 21 – Activism among
the Finno-Ugric peoples of the Russian Federation – the Maris, the Mordvins, the
Udmurts and others – has evolved over the last two decades from politics to
culture, from streets to the Internet, and from attachment to this cultural and
linguistic community as a whole to narrower groups, according to one
Finno-Ugric blogger.
While his assessment is
impressionistic rather than definitive and while it is certain to spark controversy
among those who care about these three small nations and their related
communities both inside Russia and beyond its borders, it represents a
suggestive template for considering the evolution of these communities and
perhaps others as well.
The blogger, with the screen name of
Ortem, lists what he says are the basic characteristics of Finno-Ugric activism
in the 1990s, the 2000s, and the 2010s in a post picked up by the
Uralistica.com portal which is dedicated to promoting discussion about the
Finno-Ugric nations (uralistica.com/profiles/blogs/fu-movement-90-00-10).
According
to this blogger, Finno-Ugric activism had the following characteristics during
the 1990s:
1. A
strong attachment to national republics and the importance of titular
nationality and links with co-ethnics outside the republic and a commitment to “the
institutionalization of national distinctions,” including demands that the presidents
of these republics always be members of the titular nationality.
2. Public
demonstrations and protests on behalf of these goals.
3. Close
and serious attention to international Finno-Ugric congresses.
4. “A
boom in politicized national public discussion, its openness, and the
participation of broad groups of the population in these discussions.”
5. The
emergence of “national proto-political parties” in the Finno-Ugric republics.
6. “Estonian
activists could visit Russia and they were not considered as spies.”
7. “The
leading cultural paradigm was ethno-futurism.”
8. The
movement’s basic tone was seriousness.
9. Its
most important venues were congresses of the individual nations.
10. And
its basic attitude was that that decade was “our last historic chance to
restore our statehood and organize the life and future” of our peoples.”
During the first
decade of the 21st century, the blogger suggested, the basic
characteristics of activism among the members of the Finno-Ugric nations had
changed and included the following:
1. A
shift away from the republic as the expression of the aspirations of the
national movements reflecting a growing sense that the Finno-Ugrics remain
minorities “even in their own republics” and that as a result “the republics do
not belong to them.” Instead, nationalist activists focused on smaller units
including districts and even individual settlements.
2. The
splitting apart of a single national movement into two camps: those loyal to
the course and directives of Moscow and those who position themselves as the
national opposition. And as a result of this division, the exit from active
participation of many who cannot fit themselves into either group.
3. The
depoliticization of the national movements and their increasing focus on
culture and a shift away from issues of the institutionalization of national
culture in the republics and a focus on individual or family responsibility for
cultural transmission and the general breakdown of the national society to the
level of individual families.
4. Few
discussions of the need to make the study of the national language a government
requirement.
5. As
Moscow focuses on foreign ties, among the Finno-Ugrics, “foreign partners are
transformed into potential spies and agents of influence.”
6. A
growing awareness that many of the young organizations among these nations may
be under the control of Moscow.
7. The
depoliticization of ethno-futurism into a concern with “glamour.”
8. Increasing
suspiciousness and care in expressing opinions.
9. The
chief venue is no longer the congress but the concert hall.
10. And
there is a growing sense that the Finno-Ugrics are now and will remain part of
Russia.
And at present, in the decade of the 2010s, the
blogger conclude, activism in these Finno-Ugric nations has changed again and
now displays the following characteristics:
1.
The
Internet increasingly dominates the movements with most of national life now
taking place online rather than in the streets.
2.
“A sense of the awakening of the Finno-Ugrics”
among those who do take part in online discussions.
3.
A
sharp decline in the extent of initiatives: Putting up banners or stickers “is
considered the height of achievement.”
4.
An
increasing split between what is taking place online and offline
5.
Ever
more “hints” of the need to cooperate with other small peoples of the Russian
Federation.
6.
A
rise of rhetoric stressing the equality of the rights of all peoples within and
among the republics.
7.
The
emergence of a kind of lazy activism in which people wear shirts with slogans
but never take part in any public activity beyond that.
8.
A
focus on games and amusements rather than on political issues.
9.
The
typical venue is now the discotheque or a social network like VKontakte.
10.
And
a focus on love of culture rather than anything else.
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