Fostering the All-Russian Civic Identity among Students While Teaching the History of the North Caucasus

Abstract

This article focuses on the problems associated with shaping the civic identity among students in Russia as they study the history of the North Caucasian peoples. One of the powerful tools to overcome them is to develop a sense of historical consciousness in the younger generation of Russians. However, while the collective memory of the past can serve as a unifying force through shared national values, it can also ignite historical grievances, claims, and conflicts in the present. Here, the debates revolving around the conflicting interpretations of the events that took place in the North Caucasus during the 19th and early 20th centuries (the Caucasian War, the tactics and warfare methods of the Russian military commanders and mountain leaders, the Muhajir movement, and the actions of the imperial power structures) are considered. The questions are raised about how to effectively convey the history of the North Caucasus to the youth, as well as what approaches should be employed to explain the complex, contradictory, and sometimes tragic events of the region’s past so that it would contribute to the development of an all-Russian civic identity instead of fueling confrontations and divisions. Several approaches (recommendations) for teaching the history of the North Caucasus are outlined. They highlight the integrative tendencies in the history of the region, emphasizing the factors that unite its diverse peoples, cultures, and worldviews and define their common pathways for historical development.