A Short Essay on the Specificity and Particularities

of the

Russian Colonialism in Alaska

Frequently approached with a particular dose of subjectivity, the Russian NorthAmerican Colonies problem has often generated a wide interest within the specialized literature, even when the subject was current1, as well as controversy amongst historians, who on many ocasions ignored the distinct nature and uniqueness of this phenomenon. Although the Russian America has its origins in the same exploration rush to fiind the so-called North-East Passage2 and the legitimacy of the Russian authority in the region was based on the same right of discovery 3 , just according to the classic patterns of the European modern Colonialism4, these two elements will end the series of major similarities. Russias affiliation to a different cultural area than Western Europe and, simultaneously, the distinct paradigm which can describe its expansion over the Pacific Ocean, conferred to the Russian colonization its particular shade. And by a distinct paradigm I mean particularly that the causal deterministic engine which drove the Russians continuously toward East and, ultimately, across the Pacific, was the continental character of the Russian Empire itself.

See Jefferys, Thomas, A Summary of the Voyages Made by the Russians on the Frozen Sea, in Search of a North East Paage in Voyages from Asia to America, for Completing the Discoveries of the Nort We t Coat of America, London, printed for T. Jefferys, the Corner of St. Martins Lane, Charing Cros, 1761. 2 Ibidem, passim. 3 Black, Lydia, Russians in Alaska, 1732 1867, Fairbanks, University of Alaska Press, 2004, p. xiii. 4 See Horvath, Ronald, A Definition of Colonialism n Current Anthropology, Vol. 13, No. 1 (Feb., 1972), pp. 45 57.

Having a large mass of land to extend, the Russian continuous conquest and settlement was a very gradual process, requiring almost three centuries to reach the Eastern coast of Asia5. This is a period I like to call pre-colonial imperialism as we cant discuss about colonialism, yet. Of course, a colonization is present during the process, but without involving large population displacement and translation from the dominant group, to the territory of the dominated one which are the main features of colonialism6. Needless to say that this specific pre-colonialism can also be observed in the first decades of Russian Alaskas existence.

However, the involvement of the geographical space concerning this particular matter doesnt stop here. In my opinion, the geographical area has, by far, the most important role in determining the patterns which led the Russian towards the sunrise. First of all, from the Ural Mountains to Alaska, there is a single, large, continental mass, broken only by the Bering Strait. Second of all, this particular Bering Strait has been the one and only geographical point of uninterrupted connection between the New World and the Old one (see Arctic Small Tool tradition). And the last, but not the least, considering the previous statements, we can clearly observe why from the Eastern boundaries of Europe to the middle of Alaska there is an obvious cultural continuity. If I may say so, I would compare this to the transition from a colour to another in the white lights spectrum: very subtle when done gradually. In other words, the Russian settlers experienced encounters with approximatively the same populations considering the large amount of time in which the expansion took place. The differences between the native peoples were virtually non-existent I repeat, because of the progressive, very slow, extent. Adding a fourth reason, which is the translation of a subject population in the immediately adjacent territory (Siberians to Aleutian Islands, Aleutians to Alaska) 7 would make this ethnocultural continuum and its decisive role in determining the shape of the Russian colonization even more obvious.

Farrely, Theodore, Early Russian Contact With Alaska n Pacific Affairs, Vol. 7, No. 2 (Jun., 1934), pp. 193 197. 6 Horvath, Ronald, A Definition 7 For this matter, see Taylor, Alan, American Colonies: The Settling of North America , New York, Penguin Books, 2001.

As a short conclusion like the whole essay, actually the Russian Colonial Epic was a phenomenon marked more by anomalies and particularities, than included within the limits of a general paradigm. And my explanation for it is eminently a deterministic one: area of development. Nevertheless, as it is said, an exception will confirm the general rule.
by Marius Vasile VRNCIANU

(anul II, grupa D/H214)