The increasing political influence of Russia and administrative reform in Tuva

Abstract

Introduction: The article studies a number of archival materials - some of the latter being newly introduced into scientific discourse - and examines the incorporation of Tuvans into Russia's political space through the establishment of its protectorate over Tannu Uriankhai. The Tsarist Government would elaborate different plans to spread its influence, including somewhat military annexation of the territory. The problems were negotiated at multiple levels of the Russian power structures. A most debating point proved the task of administering both the native and Russian populations. The consultations resulted in shaping a moderate policy aimed to strengthen their positions through inflows of ethnic Russian peasants into Tuva. Goals: The paper aims to investigate some issues of administrative and territorial management in Tuva after the establishment of Russia's protectorate in 1914. Methods: The applied empirical methods included comparisons, descriptions, interpretations, and system analysis; the theoretical ones comprised historicism patterns and those of formal and dialectical logic. Results: The actual political situation required that certain corrections be introduced into the regional management system, namely: Russian administrative bodies were to be organized, their competences to be delineated, protocols for liaison between the Commissariat, Migration Department, and their relations to local authorities, Russian and Tuvan populations to be clarified. Representatives of the Russian Government employed experienced, initiative officials (A. Tsererin, V. Gabaev, V. Grigoriev) whose efficient and active efforts largely contributed to the establishment of the protectorate and facilitated the subsequent implementation of administrative and territorial reforms in the region. A number of important tasks (e.g., construction of the Usinsky Tract, conflicts between natives and newly arrived groups) required the involvement of the Governor-General of Irkutsk. Conclusions: The Xinhai Revolution gave Russia an opportunity to strengthen its positions in Tuva. The Russian officials chose the path of indirect governance through establishing close contacts with khoshun (Tuv. kozhuun 'district') rulers or appointing loyal individuals. The approach facilitated the formation of new political elites in Tuva. As a result, the Mongols were removed from power, and all Tuvan khoshuns and sumons (Tuv. sumon 'township') were governed by natives. So, Lama K. Chymba was elected as head of one of the multiple khoshuns, and four sumons were transformed into two new khoshuns. The then Tuvan political elites failed to come to a consensus about national self-determination, which partly stemmed from somewhat indifferent attitudes of theirs towards Tuva's future and the still lingering inclinations to former administrative procedures.