The Islamic representation of Tatarstan as an answer to the equalization of the Russian regions

Abstract

This article presents a study of Islamic religious symbols involved in maintaining the special status of the Tatars in post-Soviet Tatarstan. It explores how regional ethnic elites in Tatarstan use Islam (the discourse of the history of Islam in the region and Islamic symbols in the representation of the region) as a tool for legitimizing their privileged positions in the region. In addition, the article examines how Islamic culture enters into the everyday life and public space of the region, thereby, in a sense enforcing social borders between different ethnic groups. This study has two aims: a theoretical analysis of religious symbols’ role in the struggle for status in the ethnic hierarchy and the practical application of the developed theoretical framework to the case of post-Soviet Tatarstan. The author concludes that after the system of ethnic federalism was abolished in Russia, Tatars have retained their special status by appealing to Islam.

Keywords:

• Tatarstan
• Islam
• politicization of religion
• religious nationalism
• nationalism
• identity politics
• regionalism
• federalism in Russia

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author.

Notes

1. An interview with a member of the administration, male, 30 years old, 25 April 2011.

2. Tatar-inform Information Agency, 11 August 2004, http://shaimiev.tatar.ru/news/view/10033.

3. Eurasian Journal 2010, 10 (29): 8.

4. Author's interview on 26 April 2010.

5. Author's interview with religious leader, 48 years old, 28 April 2011.

6. Author's interview with journalist, male, 28 years old, 24 April 2010; and with religious leader, male, 30 years old, 26 April 2011.

7. Law of the Republic of Tatarstan on 19 February 1992 N 1448-XII “On holidays and memorial days of the Republic of Tatarstan” (as amended on 14 October 2010).

8. According to law of 14 October 2010 № 74-ZRT “On Amendments to the Law of the Republic of Tatarstan On holidays and memorial days of the Republic of Tatarstan,” in the Republic of Tatarstan has set a new memorable date: The day of the official adoption of Islam Volga Bulgaria – 21 May.

9. Author interview with one of the deputies of the State Council of the Republic, 20 June 2014.

10. Personal communication on 20 April 2011.