Titular identification of Russians in former Soviet Republics

Abstract

The collapse of the soviet union provoked a dramatic change in the status of the 25 million Russians residing in the 14 non-Russian successor states. Overnight they became ethnic minorities. They lost their dominant position to the titulars, i.e. the national populations after which the newly independent republics are named. Russians the core nation of the USSR, often had not assimilated into the union republics outside the Russian Federation, they had not learned the local language, and they did not identify with their republic of residence or with the titular population. They now found themselves in 'nationalising' states in the 'near abroad' and thus had to consider the nature of their national identification. How do people react if their in-group loses societal status? According to social identity theory, members of deprived-status groups may, firstly, try to maintain their social identity by rejecting the legemitimacy of the (new) status inequality, or they may, secondly, collectively attempt to change the position of their in-group ('voice'), or they may, thirdly, try to adapt to the new situation by making comparisons on new dimensions on which the in-group holds a higher status than the relevant out-group ('social creativity'). However, members of low-status groups may also try to change their position individually by becoming members of the high-status group ('exit'). This article deals with titular identification of Russians in the near abroad. Alternative options of national-oriented identification, such as civic of cosmopolitan ones, which imply other identity management strategies, are beyond the scope of this article.