Boundaries of resistance: The influence of an external factor on the development of the Basmachi movement (1920–1930s)

Basmachism is one of the long-lasting, complex and tragic forms of anti-Soviet, and in some cases, antiRussian resistance, bearing the features of the national liberation movement in Central Asia. The problem is still the subject of discussion. The discussions of historians are influenced by the positions of politicians and the presentation of the problem by journalists. The purpose of the research is to analyse the international influence on the development of the Basmachi movement, its assessment by historians and politicians in Russia and Central Asia.
The authors use the historical and genetic method, which allows identifying cause-and-effect relations; to the historical and comparative analysis for comparing historical events, the development of states in time in order to demonstrate ommon and special features; to the system and structural method for reconstruction of events and identifying patterns of socio-political development on the designated territories. An integral part of the research toolkit is the ideographic (narrative) method for describing the unique events and personalities of a bygone era.
The results confirm that the Basmachi movement had a clearly defined transnational features. Moreover, the rebels by Soviet troops found refuge on the Afghan territory, from where they launched armed raids on the territory of the USSR republics. The Basmachi leaders negotiated with the Afghan leadership and British representatives in British India in search of political and material support. During the 1920s and 1930s the course of the conflict of geopolitical aspects was influenced by the ethnic differences of the people living on the territory of Middle and now Central Asia.

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