Small Nations but Great Differences: Political Orientations and Cultures of the Crimean Tatars and the Gagauz

Abstract

THIS ARTICLE EXAMINES THE DIFFERING POLITICAL ORIENTATIONS of the Crimean Tatars and the Gagauz, two Turkic minorities in Ukraine and Moldova. Crimean Tatars in Ukraine expressed anti-communist and anti-Russian political preferences, while Gagauz in Moldova showed strong support for pro-communist and pro-Russian parties and politicians. This study analyses the role of cultural factors in the political attitudes and behaviour of Crimean Tatars and Gagauz and uses data from surveys, elections and referendums. The analysis shows that the distinct historical experiences of Crimean Tatars and Gagauz in the Ottoman Empire, the Russian Empire, the Soviet Union and Romania led to the emergence of distinct political cultures among these ethnic groups and affected their political behaviour and attitudes in postcommunist Ukraine and Moldova. Research question The Crimean Tatars and the Gagauz, Turkic minorities in Ukraine and Moldova, are similar in many aspects. The populations of these ethnic groups are concentrated in a small number of regions of Ukraine and Moldova. Almost all Crimean Tatars in Ukraine live in Crimea. The absolute majority of the Gagauz live in the Gagauz Yeri region in Moldova and the Odessa region in Ukraine. These ethnic groups are small minorities in Ukraine and Moldova. The Crimean Tatar population of Ukraine numbers about 250,000 or 0.5% of the total population. The 2001 census recorded that about 10% of the population in Crimea were Crimean Tatars, compared with 2% in 1989. Russians are the majority of the population (60%) in Crimea, and Ukrainians are the second largest minority in the autonomous region (24%). 1 The significant increase in the Crimean Tatar population in Crimea is a result of their return migration from Central Asian republics, where they were exiled by Stalin at the end of World War II. The Gagauz population in Moldova and Ukraine numbers more than 180,000. There are about 150,000 Gagauz in Moldova, or approximately 4% of the total population. 2 The Crimean Tatars and the Gagauz live primarily in rural areas. Both Crimean Tatars and Gagauz are Turkic ethnic groups, and their languages are Turkic. Both