Internal Colonization

This book gives a radically new reading of Russia s cultural history. Alexander Etkind traces how the Russian Empire conquered foreign territories and domesticated its own heartlands, thereby colonizing many peoples, Russians included. This vision of colonization as simultaneously internal and external, colonizing one s own people as well as others, is crucial for scholars of empire, colonialism and globalization. Starting with the fur trade, which shaped its enormous territory, and ending with Russia s collapse in 1917, Etkind explores serfdom, the peasant commune, and other institutions of internal colonization. His account brings out the formative role of foreign colonies in Russia, the self-colonizing discourse of Russian classical historiography, and the revolutionary leaders illusory hopes for an alliance with the exotic, pacifist sectarians. Transcending the boundaries between history and literature, Etkind examines striking writings about Russia s imperial experience, from Defoe to Tolstoy and from Gogol to Conrad. This path-breaking book blends together historical, theoretical and literary analysis in a highly original way. It will be essential reading for students of Russian history and literature and for anyone interested in the literary and cultural aspects of colonization and its aftermath.

This book gives a radically new reading of Russia's culturalhistory. Alexander Etkind traces how the Russian Empire conqueredforeign territories and domesticated its own heartlands, therebycolonizing many peoples, Russians included. This vision ofcolonization as simultaneously internal and external, colonizingone's own people as well as others, is crucial for scholarsof empire, colonialism and globalization.Starting with the fur trade, which shaped its enormous territoryand ending with Russia's collapse in 1917, Etkind exploresserfdom, the peasant commune, and other institutions of internalcolonization. His account brings out the formative role of foreigncolonies in Russia, the self-colonizing discourse of Russianclassical historiography, and the revolutionary leaders'illusory hopes for an alliance with the exotic, pacifistsectarians. Transcending the boundaries between history andliterature, Etkind examines striking writings about Russia'simperial experience, from Defoe to Tolstoy and from Gogol toConrad.This path-breaking book blends together historical, theoretical andliterary analysis in a highly original way. It will be essentialreading for students of Russian history and literature and foranyone interested in the literary and cultural aspects ofcolonization and its aftermath.

IntroductionPart One. The Non-Traditional OrientChapter 1. Less than One and DoubleChapter 2. WorldlinessPart Two. Writing from ScratchChapter 3. Chasing RurikChapter 4. To Colonize OneselfChapter 5. Barrels of FurPart 3. Empire of the TsarsChapter 6. Occult InstabilityChapter 7. Disciplinary GearsChapter 8. Internal AffairsPart 4. Shaved Man's BurdenChapter 9. Philosophy under Russian RuleChapter 10. Sects and RevolutionChapter 11. Re-Enchanting the DarknessChapter 12. Sacrificial PlotlinesConclusion