After Enver Pasha led the Basmachi to their doom, the Bolsheviks turned their attention towards creating reliably Communist governments in Central Asia who were loyal to the USSR. The local actors, like the Jadids, Alash Orda, Young Bukharans, etc, focused on using Bolshevik capital and military might to create a modern, Islamic government. This episode … Continue reading The Creation of the Central Asian Soviet Republics
Episode 46 – the Russian Civil War: the Creation of the Central Asian Soviet Republics
Apologies for the unexpected hiatus, but we're back with an episode on the creation of the Central Asian Soviet Republics. After Enver Pasha led the Basmachi to their doom, the Bolsheviks turned their attention towards creating reliably Communist governments in Central Asia who were loyal to the USSR. The local actors, like the Jadids, Alash … Continue reading Episode 46 – the Russian Civil War: the Creation of the Central Asian Soviet Republics
Episode 36-the Russian Civil War The Struggle for Kazakh Autonomy in 1919
The Alash Orda can no longer trust the White Movement, but they burnt their bridges with the Bolsheviks back in 1918. As the Red Armies sweep the White Army out of Siberia, the Alash Orda have to repair their relationship with the Bolsheviks or become powerless and irrelevant. But why should the Bolsheviks accept the … Continue reading Episode 36-the Russian Civil War The Struggle for Kazakh Autonomy in 1919
Episode 35-the Russian Civil War: Turkestan and Bolshevim
The Jadids are chased out of Kokand, Khiva, and Bukhara and they are outnumbered and outmaneuvered by their enemies: the Russian settlers, the Ulama, and the Basmachi. Their best hope lies with the Bolsheviks who need Turkestan to spread communism into the rest of Asia and Turkestan's resources. But can a Islamic, nationalist, modernizing movement … Continue reading Episode 35-the Russian Civil War: Turkestan and Bolshevim
Episode 33-the Russian Civil War: the Alash Orda and the White Army
After negotiations with the Bolsheviks stall, the Alash Orda turn to the White Movement in Siberia. What they find are endless political factions, Cossacks, numerous battles with the Red Army, and a White Army coup. Help Afghanistan Page Support the victims the Haitian Earthquake and Hurricane Ida Stand Up for Abortion Rights If you enjoyed … Continue reading Episode 33-the Russian Civil War: the Alash Orda and the White Army
Episode 32-the Russian Civil War: the Alash Orda and the Bolsheviks
The Russian Civil War knocks on the door of Siberia and the Steppe. The newly created Alash Autonomy must decide who they will ally with: the Bolsheviks or the White Army. Attracted by Bolshevik rhetoric, the Alash Orda start negotiates with the Soviets, but quickly learn that they have two, conflicting definitions of "self-determination" Help … Continue reading Episode 32-the Russian Civil War: the Alash Orda and the Bolsheviks
Episode 30-Mustafa Cho’qoy “Imperialist Bogeyman from Turkestan
Mustafa Cho'qoy activist, minister, refugee, and Bolshevik enemy #1. Learn how a Kazakh activist went from being a minister in Turkestan's first all Muslim, autonomous government to isolated expat in Paris struggling to get Europe to care about the plight of his people and Turkestan bogeyman that haunted Bolshevik dreams. If you enjoyed this episode, … Continue reading Episode 30-Mustafa Cho’qoy “Imperialist Bogeyman from Turkestan
Episode 23-Interview with Dr. Adeeb Khalid
This is a very special episode as we discuss the Jadids with renowned scholar, Dr. Adeeb Khalid. The Jadids were an Islamic modernizing movement within Central Asia that would later find common cause with Bolsheviks and create modern day Uzbekistan. We'll be discussing who the Jadids were, their doctrinal development, and how they fit within … Continue reading Episode 23-Interview with Dr. Adeeb Khalid
Qodiriy, Fitrat, and Cho‘lpon
I recently finished Hamid Ismailov’s book the Devils’ Dance, which is about Abdulla Qodiriy’s last days in a Soviet prison and the book he was working on before his arrest. The book mentions several Uzbek writers who I was unfamiliar with, so I decided to do a little research. This was what I was able … Continue reading Qodiriy, Fitrat, and Cho‘lpon
Art of Asymmetrical Warfare 