Scenarios of Imperial Incorporation of Asiatic Russia within the Discourse of Celebrations Dedicated to the 300th Anniversary of Russian Expansion into Siberia (1881–1882)

Abstract

Based on materials from publications dedicated to the celebration of the 300th anniversary of the Russian expansion into Siberia, the article reconsiders the content of the discourse of celebrations that happened on October 26, 1881,  in the capital centers of the Russian Empire, as a promising model for the consolidation of the authorities and society in solving critical issues facing by the government in the eastern outskirts of the empire. The historiographical review reveals that researchers show solidarity in choosing the timing of the anniversary events. The scholars conducted  a thorough analysis of the discussions surrounding the determination of the time of celebration in the discourse of authorities and society. They concluded that the debates about the precise dates and years of the “Siberian conquest” were peripheral in nature and not of significant concern in the professional community or public opinion. The study identifies the main “platforms” of the jubilee discourse, as well as the ceremonial and storytelling aspects of the commemoration, dominated during the celebration of the Russian Expansion into Siberia, in the context of formulating and translating the current imperial scenarios to incorporate Asian Russia into the general imperial space. It has been established that the ceremonial components of the jubilee discourse outlined the priorities of the imperial center in making decisions of a colonization nature. The narrative part of the discourse showcased the willingness and ability of the authorities to engage with the social forces. This was particularly evident in the discussion and formulation of the programmatic narrative, which focused on the inclusion of Asian territories in the empire. The discourse emphasized the paramount importance of connecting the European and Asian parts of Russia by rail and introduced flexible algorithms for resolving foreign issues. Furthermore, the discourse aimed to reduce the share of exile as a tool of colonization and promote government-level involvement in the resettlement process.