Imposition of an Image of Backwardness and the “Civilizing” Mission (1721–1800s)
In the 18th century, the governmental apparatus of the Russian Empire began employing Enlightenment ideas and the construction of historical myths to ideologically justify the absorption of territories. Historian Michael Khodarkovsky states that by the mid-18th century officials had come to perceive their advance as a mission preordained by destiny to "bring both Christianity and civilization to the ‘wild and uncivilized’ peoples along its borders"[1]. The local population was deliberately assigned an image of backwardness: the researcher points out that in the administration’s documents the Highlanders were described as "inconstant and treacherous," and their actions were explained by references to their "predatory craft, to which they are predisposed by their very nature and upbringing"[2]. In parallel, fictitious grounds for control were being constructed: the author records that in 1748 and the 1770s the Collegium of Foreign Affairs fabricated reports claiming that the Indigenous population of the Caucasus had allegedly professed Christianity in the past, in order to contest the claims of other powers and "legitimize its efforts at their ‘re-Christianization’"[2]. Building on this foundation, in 1784 the imperial governors asserted that, with the dispatch of missionaries, they would be able to spread their influence and shed "the light of divine bliss among all the peoples scattered in the mountains"[2].
Actors
| ID | Name | Description |
|---|---|---|
| G0009 | Russian Empire |
The government of the Russian Empire justified expansion with ideas of enlightening undeveloped societies: historian Michael Khodarkovsky states the ambition of the metropole's officials "to bring both Christianity and civilization to the 'wild and uncivilized' peoples along its borders"[1]. |
Techniques Used
| ID | Name | Use | |
|---|---|---|---|
| T0006 | Dehumanization |
The government of the Russian Empire deliberately constructed an image of the Indigenous population as criminal savages: historian Michael Khodarkovsky records that in administration documents the highlanders were labeled as "inconstant and treacherous," while their actions were explained by references to their "predatory craft, to which they are predisposed by their very nature and upbringing"[2]. |
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| T0001 | Imposition of a Backwardness Narrative |
The government of the Russian Empire justified expansion with ideas of enlightening undeveloped societies: historian Michael Khodarkovsky states the ambition of the metropole's officials "to bring both Christianity and civilization to the 'wild and uncivilized' peoples along its borders"[1]. |
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| T0024 | Justification Through Religion |
The occupation administration of the Russian Empire used religious pretexts for expansion: historian Michael Khodarkovsky cites a memorandum by Governor-General P. S. Potemkin, who in 1784 declared that under the pretext of returning the highlanders to the faith and sending priests to them, the empire would be able to shed "the light of divine bliss among all the peoples scattered in the mountains"[2]. |
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| T0004 | Rewriting of History |
The government of the Russian Empire fabricated historical accounts to provide legal justification for invasion: historian Michael Khodarkovsky points out that in 1748 and in the 1770s officials deliberately constructed fictitious claims that the Indigenous peoples of the Caucasus had allegedly been Christians in the past, in order to contest the claims of other empires and "legitimize their efforts at their 're-Christianization'"[2]. |
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Instruments
| ID | Name | Description |
|---|---|---|
| S0008 | Government |
The government of the Russian Empire justified expansion with ideas of enlightening undeveloped societies: historian Michael Khodarkovsky states the ambition of the metropole's officials "to bring both Christianity and civilization to the 'wild and uncivilized' peoples along its borders"[1]. |
| S0012 | Occupation and Controlled Administrations |
The occupation administration of the Russian Empire used religious pretexts for expansion: historian Michael Khodarkovsky cites a memorandum by Governor-General P. S. Potemkin, who in 1784 declared that under the pretext of returning the highlanders to the faith and sending priests to them, the empire would be able to shed "the light of divine bliss among all the peoples scattered in the mountains"[2]. |