The Situation of Muslims in Russia's International Sphere at the Beginning of the 20th Century

Abstract

A significant number of Muslims live in Russia. With the expansion of Russia's sphere of influence, Muslims are present in three directions besides the west. Therefore, as Russia pursued its expansionist policies, a significant portion of the diverse communities it was forced to coexist with were Muslims.

The 20th century saw a significant clear-cut political boundary in the region, from the Tsarist era to the 1917 Revolution. While some areas briefly fell into Russian hands before the revolution, the Bolshevik regime, through its expansionist policies immediately following the revolution, brought these lost territories back under its control.

This study analyzes the Muslim population within Russia's sphere of influence. It examines the regions where this population resides. It is observed that, with the exception of the western and southwestern regions, the Russians are surrounded by Muslims.