The Idea of National Independence in Nalchik District During the Civil War

• Published in: Vestnik Volgogradskogo gosudarstvennogo universiteta. Serii͡a︡ 4, Istorii͡a Vol. 27; no. 1; pp. 139 - 150
• Main Authors: Tekueva, Madina, Konovalov, Andrei, Gugova, Marina
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English; Russian
• Published: Volgograd State University 01.02.2022
• Subjects: bolsheviks; civil war; national independence; sharia movement; the north caucasus; “white” movement
• ISSN: 1998-9938; 2312-8704
• DOI: 10.15688/jvolsu4.2022.1.12

Introduction. The sociopolitical commotions of 1917 caused the rise of national liberation ideas in the North Caucasus. These ideas attracted representatives of various social groups of the indigenous population of the Nalchik district to the revolution. But the national question was intertwined with the task of seizing power and the economic interests of individual circles, which formed four options for solving the national question. It is necessary to pay attention to them and highlight the perspective of the picture of the events of the Civil War. Analysis. The article presents an analysis of the main variants of national ideas through the characteristics of the main characters of the dramatic period in Kabarda and Balkaria. This is, firstly, Shakmanov’s policy of national neutrality, aimed at preventing armed uprisings and civilian casualties. Secondly, this is the program of Dautokov-Serebryakov, which offered complete self-determination of Kabarda, but could not stand the collaboration with Denikin’s idea of a “great and indivisible Russia”. The third position, presented by Katkhanov, combined the national liberation aspirations of the people with religious consciousness. The fourth was manifested in the rhetoric of Kalmykov, who interpreted the early Bolshevik documents on the right of nations to self-determination in the context of a federation. Results. The complex of methods of objective historical analysis gives an understanding of some of the reasons that attracted various social groups, predominantly the agrarian population of Kabarda and Balkaria, to participate in the Civil War. Authors’ contribution. Development of the concept of the article, analysis of the results and general editing belongs to M.A. Tekueva. The introductory section was written by M.Kh. Gugova. The analysis of the idea of national independence during the Civil War in the Nalchik region was carried out by A.A. Konovalov.