ethnicity; ethnic minorities; Soviet Union; post-Soviet Eurasia; soviet nationality policy

The chapter examines the evolution of ethnicity and nationality policy in the Soviet Union and its successor states, tracing how Soviet-era classifications, territorial structures, and alternating policies of korenizatsiya, Russification, and titularization shaped ethnic identities. It outlines the Soviet approach to defining nationalities through “objective” criteria, the creation of ethno-federal units, and the fluctuating balance between promoting local elites and cultures versus fostering Russian linguistic and cultural dominance. The legacy of these policies profoundly influenced post-1991 nation-building strategies, with newly independent states adopting varying models of identity formation — from ethnically exclusive to civic and inclusive — depending on historical, demographic, and geopolitical factors. The chapter surveys regional variations of ethnic policies and it also addresses the post-Soviet de facto states, where minority policies range from multiculturalism to ethnic homogenization. By situating contemporary minority issues in their historical and institutional context, the chapter demonstrates how the Soviet nationality legacy continues to shape political regimes, interethnic relations, and statehood across the post-Soviet space.

The chapter examines the evolution of ethnicity and nationality policy in the Soviet Union and its successor states, tracing how Soviet-era classifications, territorial structures, and alternating policies of korenizatsiya, Russification, and titularization shaped ethnic identities. It outlines the Soviet approach to defining nationalities through “objective” criteria, the creation of ethno-federal units, and the fluctuating balance between promoting local elites and cultures versus fostering Russian linguistic and cultural dominance. The legacy of these policies profoundly influenced post-1991 nation-building strategies, with newly independent states adopting varying models of identity formation — from ethnically exclusive to civic and inclusive — depending on historical, demographic, and geopolitical factors. The chapter surveys regional variations of ethnic policies and it also addresses the post-Soviet de facto states, where minority policies range from multiculturalism to ethnic homogenization. By situating contemporary minority issues in their historical and institutional context, the chapter demonstrates how the Soviet nationality legacy continues to shape political regimes, interethnic relations, and statehood across the post-Soviet space.