Doing Business in Russia. Котова К.П - 52 стр.

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52
III. Read through the text.
The Imperial Trap
Russia acquired a potentially threatening imperial character in the
19
th
century. After the conquest of the Caucasus (1864) and Cen-
tral Asia (late 1880s) Russia contained many non-Russians. This
eventually led to the disintegration of the USSR. Does not the
same destiny await a multinational Russia?
The USSR’s history sounds a warning
The first snare war the annexation of new territories and new populations
with different traditions.
At the end of the 19
th
century (1897 census), Russia (without Poland and
Finland) was composed of 72% ethnic Russians. The country balanced on the
verge of ethno-political stability. Russia gradually ceased to be a state as a re-
sult of its colonial policy. It has been observed that, when the main ethnic group
numbers 70 to 95 per cent of the total population, minorities are gradually inte-
grated into a single nation (preserving its ethno-cultural distinction).
By the end of the 20
th
century (1989 census), the numerical strength of
the Slav peoples had doubled. During that same time, the numerical strength of
the peoples of the Northern Caucasus, Transcaucasia, Central Asia and Kazakh-
stan grew fourfold and amounted to 20% of the total population of the USSR
(as opposed to 10% at the end of the 19
th
century).
During the Soviet period these peoples also ostensibly acquired their own
institutions of national statehood.
The second snare. The modernization of a backward multinational coun-
try requires “national personnel at the nation’s outskirts”. Stalin’s nationalities
policy was formulated at the 4
th
Conference of the Communist Party held in
June 1923. Stalin needed not only specialists in national provinces but also “na-
tional personnel” who would be politically devoted to him. This personnel laid
its claim to sovereignty in the post-totalitarian epoch. 
                                         52

III. Read through the text.
                               The Imperial Trap
        Russia acquired a potentially threatening imperial character in the
        19th century. After the conquest of the Caucasus (1864) and Cen-
        tral Asia (late 1880s) Russia contained many non-Russians. This
        eventually led to the disintegration of the USSR. Does not the
        same destiny await a multinational Russia?
      The USSR’s history sounds a warning
      The first snare war the annexation of new territories and new populations
with different traditions.
      At the end of the 19th century (1897 census), Russia (without Poland and
Finland) was composed of 72% ethnic Russians. The country balanced on the
verge of ethno-political stability. Russia gradually ceased to be a state as a re-
sult of its colonial policy. It has been observed that, when the main ethnic group
numbers 70 to 95 per cent of the total population, minorities are gradually inte-
grated into a single nation (preserving its ethno-cultural distinction).
      By the end of the 20th century (1989 census), the numerical strength of
the Slav peoples had doubled. During that same time, the numerical strength of
the peoples of the Northern Caucasus, Transcaucasia, Central Asia and Kazakh-
stan grew fourfold and amounted to 20% of the total population of the USSR
(as opposed to 10% at the end of the 19 th century).
      During the Soviet period these peoples also ostensibly acquired their own
institutions of national statehood.
      The second snare. The modernization of a backward multinational coun-
try requires “national personnel at the nation’s outskirts”. Stalin’s nationalities
policy was formulated at the 4 th Conference of the Communist Party held in
June 1923. Stalin needed not only specialists in national provinces but also “na-
tional personnel” who would be politically devoted to him. This personnel laid
its claim to sovereignty in the post-totalitarian epoch.

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