The birth of modern Circassian nationalism

Abstract

This article focuses on problems of the national movement of the Circassians – a small nation in the Caucasus, most of whose population is dispersed all over the world. The paper researches the development of the Circassian movement from 1989–2000 and its contemporary structure since 2005. The modern Circassian movement as a whole has never been approached from a political science viewpoint. This research aims to answer several core questions: What are the different strands of the movement? What principles are they based on? Who are the participants? What political forces support them? How do these political forces interact with each other?

Keywords:

• nationalism
• nationalist movement
• Russia
• Caucasus
• Circassians

Acknowledgments

I would like to thank Charles King for helpful conversations. The Institute of International Education and the George Washington University's Hayward Isham Fellowship in Eurasian Studies provided financial and institutional support. Special thanks are due to all who read and provided feedback on earlier drafts, including Jonty Yamisha, Henry Hale, Cory Welt, Sasha Schmeman, Robert Orttung, Harris Milonas, Justin Caton, anonymous reviewers, the editors, and the participants in the PONARS Eurasia's workshop at the American University of Central Asia in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan (June 12–15, 2011), where the first version of this article was presented.

Notes

The terms nationalist, sovereigntist, centrist, culturalist, and accommodationist will be defined later in the article.

Adige Khasa (literarily Circassian Parliament) was a legislative institution presented in most Circassian principalities before the Russian conquer. Nowadays, it is a common title for many Circassian NGOs in Russia and diaspora communities. The Parliament of Adygea Republic is called Khase, as well.