Russian-Persian Schools as an Element of Imperial Russia’s Soft Power Policy in Northern Persia: Late Nineteenth – Early Twentieth Centuries

Introduction. The late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries witnessed an intensified Russia–UK confrontation in Persia, which was paralleled by penetrations of other great powers (France, Germany, USA) into the Near and Middle East. Under those conditions, Russia’s traditional economic methods o...

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Main Author: Vladimir O. Kulakov
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Российской академии наук, Калмыцкий научный центр 2024-05-01
Series:Oriental Studies
Subjects:
Online Access:https://kigiran.elpub.ru/jour/article/view/5063
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author Vladimir O. Kulakov
author_facet Vladimir O. Kulakov
author_sort Vladimir O. Kulakov
collection DOAJ
description Introduction. The late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries witnessed an intensified Russia–UK confrontation in Persia, which was paralleled by penetrations of other great powers (France, Germany, USA) into the Near and Middle East. Under those conditions, Russia’s traditional economic methods of influence in Persia became insufficient. Goals. The study seeks to examine the phenomenon of Russian educational institutions in Northern Persia as another way of pursuing own national political goals in the designated country. The work aims at confirming — with evidence from archival documents — the activities of Russian-Persian schools during the specified period were to shape a positive image of Russia in Persian society. Materials and methods. The most important sources characterizing the process of opening Russian-Persian schools in Northern Persia (their goals and objectives, training agenda, certain results) are documents of both central authorities and diplomatic, economic and military institutions of the Russian Empire to Persia discovered at the Russian State Historical Archive. Analytical and generalization methods — with comparative into historiographic and archival materials — have proved most instrumental therein. Results. The article identifies some prerequisites for the emergence of Russian-Persian schools in Northern Persia, determines the validity of their activities in this particular region of the country, clearly outlines the context of Russia’s competition with other governments in this matter to conclude as follows: the Russian government was perfectly aware of the need to open such schools that would disseminate the Russian language and Russia-related ideas among Persia’s population; graduates of those educational institutions would serve an important element in pursuing Russia’s interests both in trade, economy, and politics; despite various difficulties — primarily financial ones — the schools were popular enough among ethnic Persians both in Tehran and in other cities of Northern Persia.
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spelling doaj-art-7fee0c18952b4a499ab679cedababa222025-02-11T11:54:41ZengРоссийской академии наук, Калмыцкий научный центрOriental Studies2619-09902619-10082024-05-0117181710.22162/2619-0990-2024-71-1-8-17Russian-Persian Schools as an Element of Imperial Russia’s Soft Power Policy in Northern Persia: Late Nineteenth – Early Twentieth CenturiesVladimir O. Kulakov0https://orcid.org/0009-0007-2188-5660Astrakhan Tatishchev State UniversityIntroduction. The late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries witnessed an intensified Russia–UK confrontation in Persia, which was paralleled by penetrations of other great powers (France, Germany, USA) into the Near and Middle East. Under those conditions, Russia’s traditional economic methods of influence in Persia became insufficient. Goals. The study seeks to examine the phenomenon of Russian educational institutions in Northern Persia as another way of pursuing own national political goals in the designated country. The work aims at confirming — with evidence from archival documents — the activities of Russian-Persian schools during the specified period were to shape a positive image of Russia in Persian society. Materials and methods. The most important sources characterizing the process of opening Russian-Persian schools in Northern Persia (their goals and objectives, training agenda, certain results) are documents of both central authorities and diplomatic, economic and military institutions of the Russian Empire to Persia discovered at the Russian State Historical Archive. Analytical and generalization methods — with comparative into historiographic and archival materials — have proved most instrumental therein. Results. The article identifies some prerequisites for the emergence of Russian-Persian schools in Northern Persia, determines the validity of their activities in this particular region of the country, clearly outlines the context of Russia’s competition with other governments in this matter to conclude as follows: the Russian government was perfectly aware of the need to open such schools that would disseminate the Russian language and Russia-related ideas among Persia’s population; graduates of those educational institutions would serve an important element in pursuing Russia’s interests both in trade, economy, and politics; despite various difficulties — primarily financial ones — the schools were popular enough among ethnic Persians both in Tehran and in other cities of Northern Persia. https://kigiran.elpub.ru/jour/article/view/5063educationschoolsoriental studies societynorthern persiahistoryrussiapoliticsloan and discount bankinfluence
spellingShingle Vladimir O. Kulakov
Russian-Persian Schools as an Element of Imperial Russia’s Soft Power Policy in Northern Persia: Late Nineteenth – Early Twentieth Centuries
Oriental Studies
education
schools
oriental studies society
northern persia
history
russia
politics
loan and discount bank
influence
title Russian-Persian Schools as an Element of Imperial Russia’s Soft Power Policy in Northern Persia: Late Nineteenth – Early Twentieth Centuries
title_full Russian-Persian Schools as an Element of Imperial Russia’s Soft Power Policy in Northern Persia: Late Nineteenth – Early Twentieth Centuries
title_fullStr Russian-Persian Schools as an Element of Imperial Russia’s Soft Power Policy in Northern Persia: Late Nineteenth – Early Twentieth Centuries
title_full_unstemmed Russian-Persian Schools as an Element of Imperial Russia’s Soft Power Policy in Northern Persia: Late Nineteenth – Early Twentieth Centuries
title_short Russian-Persian Schools as an Element of Imperial Russia’s Soft Power Policy in Northern Persia: Late Nineteenth – Early Twentieth Centuries
title_sort russian persian schools as an element of imperial russia s soft power policy in northern persia late nineteenth early twentieth centuries
topic education
schools
oriental studies society
northern persia
history
russia
politics
loan and discount bank
influence
url https://kigiran.elpub.ru/jour/article/view/5063
work_keys_str_mv AT vladimirokulakov russianpersianschoolsasanelementofimperialrussiassoftpowerpolicyinnorthernpersialatenineteenthearlytwentiethcenturies