Tuva’s Transformation into a Monoethnic Region: Risks and Possibilities

Abstract

This article raises the issue of declining ethnocultural diversity in the Republic of Tuva. We provide evidence of migration outflows of the Russian population from the region and show that the factors contributing to the mono-ethnicization of the republic are not only its economic underdevelopment but also the unsatisfactory social well-being of Russians who have minority status there. We conclude that the process of mono-ethnicization also adversely impacts the titular ethnic group, particularly the way that a decline in interethnic interactions on a professional basis hinders the process of enriching Tuvans with the necessary skills for efficient economic activity in today’s conditions. Regional authorities have assessed the current situation as unfavorable and have taken nonstandard solutions to correcting it. Positive factors include Tuvan pride in the preservation of their traditional culture and the possibility of developing an ethno-economy.