Experts of the REC "The Greater Altai" took part in an international expert briefing on the problem of radicalization of the "Turkic factor"

29 January 2022 REC "The Greater Altai"
The international expert briefing "Risks of the politicization of the Turkic factor in the CIS space" was organized by the Berlek-Unity Center for Geopolitical Research (Ufa, Republic of Bashkortostan). The event was attended by more than 20 experts - Turkologists, political scientists, historians and other specialists from Russia, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, and Uzbekistan. Altai State University at the briefing was represented by Head of the project group of the REC for Altaic and Turkic Studies "The Greater Altai", Head of the Department of Oriental Studies, Professor Yulia Lysenko, as well as by Head of the Department of Economic Security, Accounting, Analysis and Audit, Professor Inna Sannikova.

The participants of the briefing discussed the problems of diplomacy of the countries of the Greater Eurasia, the risks of radicalization of the "Turkic factor" in Central Asia, the historical aspects of the attraction of the Turkic-speaking peoples of Russia and Central Asia, the language factor in the field of interethnic and interethnic dialogue, the synthesis of Slavic, Turkic, and Finno-Ugric cultures in the context of the post-Soviet reality and other issues.

The purpose of the briefing, according to Director of the Center for Geopolitical Studies "Berlek-Unity", Candidate of Political Sciences Radik Murzagaleev, was to discuss with the participants the problem of reassessing the Turkic factor as a political instrument in the conditions of "turbulence" of modern international relations and develop practice-oriented recommendations for the formation of a common cultural, educational, and humanitarian space of Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Uzbekistan.

Head of the expert group of the project "The Turkic world of the Greater Altai: unity and diversity in history and modernity", Professor Yulia Lysenko, in her speech, in particular, noted:

 The history of the Turkic peoples of Russia and the countries of Central Asia is a positive experience of intercultural interaction between peoples. This story, in which there are many tragic events, but also many events that united us, brought us together, for example, the Great Patriotic War. Today, this story is a tool for scientific and educational integration, which is actually used by the scientific expert community of Russia and the countries of Central Asia and can significantly reduce the risks of politicizing Islam.

Professor from Altai State University Inna Sannikova in her speech emphasized the relevance of developing and promoting joint Russian-Asian economic projects, which will help strengthen the Eurasian economic partnership.

Based on the results of the briefing, the experts of the four countries concluded that the Turkologists of the Eurasian region need to join their efforts. The experts think that the Central Asian region and Russia need to actively build their understanding of the Turkic world, without regard to external forces. This, firstly, will allow us to form our own concept of intercultural interaction, and secondly, it will neutralize the negative tendencies of external influence on the consciousness of the public.
One of the most important principles for further cooperation was the need to remember that the homeland of the Turks is part of Russia - Altai.

“In Russia, there are many Turkic-speaking peoples. All of them, in unity with the Slavic, Finno-Ugric peoples, formed an all-Russian identity that clearly characterizes the high efficiency of the center's multi-ethnic policy. At the same time, the national self-consciousness of the Russian Turks is not only not declining, but is actively developing,” the Center’s final document says.

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