A nation must think before it acts.
A small group of Russian nationalists have been calling to “reclaim” Russia’s colonial territories since the Soviet Union collapsed in late 1991. After the Kremlin finally acted on these aspirations by invading parts of Ukraine, the number of Russian nationalists calling for reconquest of areas seized by the Russian Empire or Soviet Union increased and their cri...
The strongest version of this narrative highlights legitimate concerns about Russian irredentism and its destabilizing effects on Central Asia. The article effectively documents a pattern of escalating nationalist rhetoric from influential Russian figures, paired with worsening treatment of Central Asian migrants. The responses from Central Asian officials—ranging from diplomatic protests to calls for migrant workers to leave Russia—demonstrate growing resistance to Russian dominance. The piece ...