Soviet Borderlands: A Comparative Analysis of Ethnic Policies in the USSR and Post-Soviet States

Abstract

• This article provides a comparative study of ethnic policies in Soviet borderlands and their long-term effects on the political and cultural landscapes of post-Soviet states. Focusing on the treatment of minority groups in the Caucasus, Central Asia, and Eastern Europe, the paper explores how the Soviet state utilized policies of assimilation, autonomy, and repression to manage its diverse ethnic populations. The research examines how these policies have shaped nationalist movements and ethnic identity in the post-Soviet era, highlighting differences and continuities in the way ethnic groups were treated under Soviet rule and in the subsequent independent states.