Geography’s Contribution to Discussion of Decolonization: Mapping the Specificities of Socio-Ecological Interactions across Eurasia

• In Event: Geography and Geographical Thought on Postimperial Spaces

Abstract

While productive discussion of how to apply the concept and practice of decolonization is ongoing in Russian and Eurasian studies, there is a danger of dismissing its promise too quickly if decolonization is understood too metaphorically or too broadly. Reframing the term ‘colony’ based on spatial-ecological reorganizations rather than ethnic difference alone, we can place study of ‘Russia’ or post-‘Russia’ into discussions by Indigenous scholars which offer a way to recalibrate relations to Land and spaces occupied for offground purposes. Drawing in existing studies of ecological imperialism in regions of Russia and Eurasia (Lajus, Demuth, Peterson, Perdue) as well as discussions of the usefulness of the term ‘colonization’ (Beissinger, Khalid, Sahadeo, Keller, Koplatadze), the presentation will map the specificities of Russian imperial expansion and suggest use of North American Indigenous analysis for decentering Russia as the object of study.

Author

• Megan L. Dixon, College of Idaho