The Soviet Central Asian challenge: a neo-Gramscian analysis

Abstract

The Soviet Union faces a revolutionary challenge from its Central Asian Muslim population which is capable of undermining Soviet authority in the region. the thesis establishes a neo-Gramscian theory for analyzing the Soviet Central Asian challenge as a developing counterhegemonic movement against the Russian-dominated State. Antonio Gramsci's theory of hegemony and counterhegemony explains the mechanism of rule essential for group control of a state as well as the mechanism of revolt required to permit a subordinate group to stage a successful social revolution. For the purpose of this thesis, traditional Gramscian theory was broadened to allow its application to societies like the Soviet Union where the dominant division of civil society is not economic class but rather nationality group. From this neo-Gramscian perspective, the Soviet Union is a "State of nations" hegemonically rules by a single nation - The Russian nation - through a national ideology - Russian communism. The Central Asian counterhegemonic challenge to Russian hegemony revolves around three key issues: the rapidly expanding Muslim population of the region, the continued strength of Soviet Islam and Sufism, and Central Asia's Muslim nationalism. This thesis concludes that the Central Asian challenge appears capable of producing a successful Gramscian counterhegemonic revolution against the Soviet State without foreign aid or support.