European University Institute Library

Kirgistan und die sowjetische Moderne, 1941-1991, Moritz Florin

ger

Includes bibliographical references (pages 269-296) and indexes

Originally presented as the author's thesis (doctoral)--Universität, Hamburg, 2013.

illustrations

index present

non fiction

Kirgistan und die sowjetische Moderne, 1941-1991

bibliographytheses

1088495835

Moritz Florin

Kultur- und Sozialgeschichte Osteuropas, Cultural and social history of Eastern Europe, Band 3 =, Band 3

In March 1991 in Kyrgyzstan, only months before independence, a clear majority of almost 96 % voted for the preservation of the USSR. Even if there was fraud, it is still remarkable that this figure was higher than in most other republics of the USSR. How can we explain this result And what are the implications for our understanding of the USSR as an (anti)imperial state These questions can only be answered by closely examining the pre-history of the referendum. The present study shows that Soviet modernity had great appeal from the perspective of a supposedly underdeveloped Muslim periphery. At the same time, it shows how contradictory the Soviet system remained. Even if only months before the end most people in Kyrgyzstan wanted to preserve the first Socialist state, in retrospect most would agree that its fall was logical and inescapable.--, Provided by publisher