Paul
Goble
Staunton, August 24 – As Circassians
resist both Russianization and Islamization and seek national unity and
revival, ever more of them argue their future depends on Adygey Khabze,
the traditional moral code which has long governed the lives of their people (cf.
windowoneurasia2.blogspot.com/2016/09/revival-of-ethnic-code-immunizing.html
and windowoneurasia2.blogspot.com/2019/08/moscows-push-for-russification-and.html).
Now a Circassian scholar, Aslan Shazzo
has strengthened that argument by providing evidence that the etymology of the word
“Adygey,” the self-designator for Circassians, is rooted in that code rather
than simply being the name of the people (Vestnik Nauki ARIGI, 19 (43):
29-43 at natpressru.info/index.php?newsid=11715).
Many nations present themselves not
only as ethnically distinct but morally as well; and Shazzo’s detailed
scholarly article is well within that tradition. But it is even more important
in the Circassian case because it represents a serious challenge to the
divisions of the Circassian nation that Moscow has imposed.
That is because even though the
Soviets and following them the Russian authorities insist that the Adygey, the Cherkessk,
the Kabardins, the Shapsugs and several other smaller nationalities are
distinct, all these peoples acknowledge their allegiance to the Adygey
Khabze moral code.
By providing yet another
intellectual argument for their commonality, Shazzo is helping to promote that
unity and the current campaign to have members of all of these groups declare themselves
Circassians (Adygeys) in the upcoming 2020 Russian census, something many
national activists hope will be another step toward the restoration of a Circassian
Republic.
Consequently, what may look to
outsiders as an abstruse intellectual discussion is in fact high politics – and
an important part of the national rebirth of the Circassian nation.
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