Lessons 9 · 1 lessons · Q. Rajabov, A. Zamonov. History of Uzbekistan (1917–1991): textbook for Grade 10 of secondary schools and for students of secondary specialised and vocational institutions. 1st edition. G‘afur G‘ulom Publishing-Printing Creative House, Tashkent, 2017
9
The national-territorial delimitation in the Central Asian republics and its consequences
Textbook: pp. 48–54
GoalExplain the causes, course and consequences of the 1924 national-territorial delimitation, using different viewpoints.
New words
national-territorial delimitation: redrawing borders along national lines · milliy-hududiy chegaralanishTurkestan Commission of the Soviet centre · TurkkomissiyaCentral Executive Committee, the highest body between congresses of Soviets · Markaziy Ijroiya Komitet (MIK)“pan-Turkism”: a label the centre used against the idea of Turkic unity · «panturkizm»
Explanation
Until 1924 Central Asia had the Turkestan ASSR and the Bukhara and Khorezm republics; each had Uzbeks, Tajiks, Turkmens, Kazakhs, Kyrgyz and Karakalpaks living in mixed areas. Local communists such as Turor Risqulov defended the unity of the Turkic peoples and a single Turkestan, while the centre labelled this idea “pan-Turkism” and “bourgeois nationalism”. On 12 June 1924 the Politburo of the RCP(b) Central Committee (on I. V. Stalin’s proposal) adopted a decision on the national-territorial delimitation of Central Asia; the stated reasons were to end ethnic conflicts and give each people its own republic, while critics say it chose language and nationality as the basis and gave little weight to shared economic ties such as water and irrigation. On 16 September 1924 the CEC of the Turkestan ASSR, on 20 September the Fifth All-Bukhara Kurultai, on 29 September the Fifth All-Khorezm Kurultai and, on that basis, on 27 October the Third Session of the USSR CEC approved the delimitation. As a result, in place of the Turkestan, Bukhara and Khorezm republics the Uzbek SSR and Turkmen SSR were created, with the Tajik ASSR inside Uzbekistan, together with the Kara-Kyrgyz Autonomous Oblast, the Kazakh ASSR and, within it, the Kara-Kalpak Autonomous Oblast. The textbook judges that the process harmed Uzbek interests, since areas with many Uzbek inhabitants went to neighbouring republics; on 31 October 1924 a provisional Revolutionary Committee of the Uzbek SSR was formed under Fayzulla Xo‘jayev.
Worked examples
Example (chronology): the sequence of decisions: 12 June (Politburo), 16 September (Turkestan CEC), 20 September (Bukhara), 29 September (Khorezm), 27 October (USSR CEC), 31 October (provisional revcom). To remember: first the centre decided, then the republics “approved”, then Moscow took the final decision.
Example (two viewpoints): supporters – “each people gets its own republic and administration is easier”. Critics – “shared water and economic ties were cut, and many people remained in other republics”. To test both arguments, border maps and economic maps should be compared.
Class activity
Map work: students mark the pre-1924 and post-1924 republics in two colours and count the six newly formed units.
Practice
1
When was the Politburo decision on the national-territorial delimitation adopted?
On 12 June 1924.
2
Which state units were formed in place of Turkestan, Bukhara and Khorezm in 1924? Name three.
For example, the Uzbek SSR, Turkmen SSR, Tajik ASSR (within Uzbekistan), Kazakh ASSR, Kara-Kyrgyz Autonomous Oblast, Kara-Kalpak Autonomous Oblast.
3
When and under whom was the provisional Revolutionary Committee of the Uzbek SSR formed?
On 31 October 1924, under Fayzulla Xo‘jayev.
4
What do critics of the delimitation regard as its main shortcoming?
Borders were drawn mainly by language and nationality, shared water, irrigation and economic ties were insufficiently considered, and many people remained in other republics.