Historical Constructions and Nation Formation in Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan

This research project explores historiographical discourse about the "origins" and "past" of so-called "titular nations" in post-Soviet Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, with reference to history textbooks. The project focuses on three central questions:

The first question concerns the way in which the "past" of "titular" nations has been described and reinterpreted in history textbooks, with special focus on the period of Russian colonialism and Soviet rule. This includes political reinterpretations of the "past" that concern (among other things) the history of neighbouring countries and an imaginary geography of one`s "own" nation state. Special consideration will be given to the role of Islam in the legitimisation of "titular nations".

Second, the project is devoted to the question whether, how and to what extent ethnic and religious minorities, as well as peoples who are represented in official historiography almost as if they were 'religious rivals' of the 'titular nations', are represented and perceived.

Third, the project deals with transnational aspects of post-Soviet historiography. How is the relation to Europe treated in these countries? Is it defined exclusively in relation to Russia, or do other, both new and traditional, approaches exist? How is historiography responding in geopolitical terms to the fact that Moscow's centralising power has considerably decreased? These questions should help to show how the categories 'East' and 'West' are to be understood in these countries today.

In March 2008, Dr. Bahodir Sidikov completed an excursion to Almaty (Kazakhstan) as part of a project financed by the Foreign Office. He was able to gain an in-depth overview of the transformation process within historiography and the school textbook system that has taken place since the founding of the Republic of Kazakhstan. He consulted participating institutions as well as textbook authors, and explored opportunities and possibilities for cooperative projects with them. At the end of his visit, the Georg Eckert Institute and the Tschokan Valikhanov Institute for History and Social Anthropology signed an agreement expressing their will to academic cooperation.