Religious policy as part of empire politics in Turkestan (second half XIX - beginning XX centuries)

In the middle of the XIX century the connection of territory of South Kazakhstan and Central Asia to Russia was completed. This process has caused the need to develop and implement a new strategy of the national policy, the main content of which was integration of the created Turkestan general-governorship into imperial space. During the implementation of integrated aspirations of imperial power a significant role was played by religious politics. In a significant influence of the Islamic factor in the socio-political life of the population of the region, the main content of this policy was the abandonment of active interference to their spiritual life, loyalty and tolerance in matters of faith, some financial support for a phased veiled dismantling of a Islamic institutions and structures. Against the background of the overall development of missionary work in the empire of the Russian Orthodox Church among inorodtsy, its role and place in the religious policy of Russia in Turkestan took specific forms and methods of work. In the second half of XIX century local authorities felt insecure opening the Orthodox mission in the region, hindered the process. Therefore, set up in the 70-th XIX century Semirechensk of Turkestan province Sarkanskaya (Semirechye) Orthodox mission to spread its activities overseas Chinese from Xinjiang, and does not aim to appeal to the local Muslim population of Orthodox territory. Forcing events to create anti-Islamic mission, local authorities have started after the events of the first Russian revolution, which was associated with the integration process among the Muslims of the empire and the growing influence of Islam on their socio-political development. However, established in 1912 Turkestan mission, was forced to conduct covert propaganda of Christianity, and had no noticeable effect on the religious life of the region. In general, the religious policy of the Russian Empire in Turkestan were characterized by forethought and deliberation. This fact allows us to consider this policy as a powerful factor in securing the positions of state power in the region.

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