In this thesis the situation considering national awareness of the Chuvash people is described. The central question in this research is the following: how can awareness of the Chuvash people be...Show moreIn this thesis the situation considering national awareness of the Chuvash people is described. The central question in this research is the following: how can awareness of the Chuvash people be described and which factors are/were crucial in its formation? In order to analyze the problem in greater depth, the historical background of the region and the Chuvash people since the 10th century till post-communist period is studied in the first chapter. Additionally, socio-political awareness of the national elite and its development was studied for a broader understanding of the topic. Particular attention is paid to Ivan Iakovlevich Iakovlev, the pedagogical activist, nationalist, founder of the Chuvash alphabet and first Chuvash national schools. This person played an important role in the development of the national awareness among the Chuvash as his activities contributed to formation of national intelligentsia and thereby to establishment of the Chuvash statehood. The situation considering national awareness among the Chuvash in modern Russia is analyzed in the second chapter. Contradictions in evaluation of the situation are explained there: was it a period of national awakening or rather of “national nihilism”, in other words underestimation of own ethnic group, lack of confidence in the prospects of their development and orientation on other nation. In the third chapter, the results of interviews and current situation are described. Possible economic, political and socio-cultural reasons for the current situation considering national awareness among the Chuvash are discussed there too.Show less
