Russian Culture in Uzbekistan

"This book investigates the workings of Russian-language culture in Uzbekistan, the ways in which an imperial civilization promoted itself, from the mid-nineteenth century to the tragic uprising in Andijan of May 2005. It demonstrates how the Russian language and its speakers attempted to create something called 'Uzbekistan', examining the predicament of Russian culture in a predominantly Islamic society within several contexts: historical, political, social, artistic, religious, and ecological. Focusing in particular upon the Russian language, it also analyzes non-verbal domains of Russian enterprise such as classical music, opera, folk dance, and ballet. It shows how these forms of expression were not initially part of Uzbekistan, and had to be vigorously, verbally advertised by Moscow as it tried to promote itself as culturally superior. This book outlines the cultural implications of Russia's involvement with the Uzbek people, and Islam in general, and will be of great relevance to the study of other conflicts of a similar nature in the world today."--BOOK JACKET.