Imperial Acculturation Policy in the South-Eastern Frontier Zone as a Subject of Study in Russian Historiography

Abstract

The article analyzes the problems and conceptual approaches of research on the history of acculturation policy of the Russian Empire in relation to the annexed territories, which are reflected in the works of modern domestic researchers. The discussion around the acculturation model of understanding the empire as a methodological alternative to the colonial approach is summarized. The article notes the contribution of the researcher S. V. Lyubichankovskiy in the development of the concept of acculturation as a methodological basis for historical research, which, in his opinion, does not contradict the model of colonialism. On the contrary, both theoretical constructs complement each other. S. V. Lyubichankovskiy sees the advantage of the acculturation model in the fact that it is more universal, which allows successfully solving research problems. Through the prism of historiography the history of imperial policy on the integration of nomadic and semi-nomadic ethnoses inhabiting the zone of the south-eastern frontier into the economic and socio-cultural space of the Russian state is shown. The study of the main directions of acculturation policy in relation to the ethnic groups that inhabited the Ural-Volga and Central Asian territories is summarized.