SOVIET ORIENTALISM AND CONGRESS OF THE PEOPLES OF THE EAST

Abstract

This study aims to compare the Orientalism of Edward Said and the understanding of Orient in Tsarist Russia and, most importantly, in Soviet Russia. Based on this, the Bolsheviks began to develop Oriental studies in early Soviet Russia, setting themselves the task of approaching the East, and expecting a world revolution from the East. Between 1917 and 1920 Soviet Russia experienced period of civil war, foreign intervention and expectations of revolution in Germany. When the Soviets realized that the revolution in the west could not be realized in a short time, they began to turn their attention to the east. On account of to break the influence of England in the east, they started a strict propaganda activity here. In a short time, they created institutions to learn the East and educate Marxist orientalists. The Baku Congress of the Peoples of the East in 1920, served to create the perception that the Soviets were friends of the Eastern peoples and to propagate against the British rule there. The executive organ of the Congress translated and delivered resolutions and propaganda materials to the countries of the East. Although the dream of the Soviets to start a revolution in the East lost its effect soon after the agreement with Great Britain