Abstract
This paper seeks to further recent reflections by scholars on whether James C. Scott’s concept of “high modernism” provides a useful framework to analyse Soviet irrigation schemes in Soviet Central Asia. Empirically, it looks into the irrigation development and land reclamation project of the Hungry Steppe in Soviet Central Asia during the post-Stalinist period with a focus on the Tajik SSR. Two aspects of the Hungry Steppe project are examined: the discursive shift which enabled to reframe the steppe as arable land, and the changes in resettlement policies for populating the newly reclaimed areas. The paper concludes that despite the manifold criticism voiced towards the concept of “high modernism”, it proves nevertheless productive in explaining the big discursive shifts related to post-Stalinist large-scale Soviet irrigation schemes such as the Hungry Steppe project. At the same time, it fails to account for, let alone explain the complexity of these shifts.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
