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Cultural backwardness
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<h2 id="characteristics">Characteristics</h2> <p>The <a href="/facts/People%27s_Commissariat_for_Education/zaQ9Qe1W">People's Commissariat for Education</a> listed five official characteristics of culturally backward nationalities:<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:4" href="#fn:4"><sup>4</sup></a> </p> <ul><li>An extremely low level of literacy</li> <li>An extremely low percentage of children in school</li> <li>Absence of a written script connected to a literary language</li> <li>Existence of "social vestiges" (oppression of women, racial hostility, nomadism, religious fanaticism)</li> <li>An extremely low level of national <a href="/facts/Professional_revolutionaries/XH8cVR0R">cadres</a></li></ul> <h2 id="list-of-nationalities-identified-as-culturally-backward">List of nationalities identified as culturally backward</h2> <p>In 1932 the People's Commissariat for Education published an official list of "culturally backward" nationalities:<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:5" href="#fn:5"><sup>5</sup></a> </p> <table><tbody><tr><td><ul><li><a href="/facts/Abkhaz_people/3ngWmBap">Abkhaz</a></li><li><a href="/facts/Adyghe_people/f5ICBYeH">Adyghe</a></li><li><a href="/facts/Adjarians/rG3tAzW6">Adjarians</a></li><li><a href="/facts/Aleut_people/FxfylVmf">Aleut</a></li><li><a href="/facts/Assyrian_people/qfHqDhDc">Assyrian</a></li><li><a href="/facts/Azerbaijani_people/nXFAmaLb">Azerbaijanis</a></li><li><a href="/facts/Caucasian_Avars/bLK2lrys">Avars</a></li><li>Baksan (a tribe of Balkars)<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:6" href="#fn:6"><sup>6</sup></a></li><li><a href="/facts/Balkars/zcBoSgpT">Balkars</a></li><li><a href="/facts/Bashkirs/Ud9Davf1">Bashkirs</a></li><li><a href="/facts/Besermyan/X4A8S6pl">Besermyan</a></li><li><a href="/facts/Bulgarians/xa4djST7">Bulgarians</a></li><li><a href="/facts/Buryats/daRwvbof">Buryats</a></li><li><a href="/facts/Chechen_people/xXzyEMjB">Chechen</a></li><li><a href="/facts/Cherkes/hGqTkoKD">Cherkes</a> (Adyghe)</li><li><a href="/facts/Han_Chinese/gMl0sKy0">Chinese</a></li><li><a href="/facts/Chud/X6vPuVuS">Chud</a></li><li><a href="/facts/Chukchi_people/CxrmCI0Y">Chukchi</a></li><li><a href="/facts/Chuvans/kscdmDS5">Chuvans</a></li><li><a href="/facts/Chuvash_people/Pw8IjuXr">Chuvash</a></li><li><a href="/facts/Dargin_people/jyfH3VDr">Dargins</a></li><li><a href="/facts/Dolgans/qNPHtMkY">Dolgans</a></li><li><a href="/facts/Dungans/EoLWJz2T">Dungans</a></li><li><a href="/facts/Eskimo/qD9GDS7L">Eskimo</a></li><li><a href="/facts/Nivkh_people/6MQUNsFu">Giliaks</a> (Nivkhs)</li><li><a href="/facts/Nani_people/YdxcY7SR">Golds</a> (Nanai)</li><li><a href="/facts/Greeks_in_Russia_and_the_Soviet_Union/eMVFBbR7">Greeks</a></li><li><a href="/facts/Ingush_people/Q74QXk08">Ingush</a></li><li><a href="/facts/Izhorians/Bu9qSeLz">Izhorians</a></li><li><a href="/facts/Kabardians/BekwuDkW">Kabardin</a></li><li><a href="/facts/Kaitags/reEK0wTb">Kaitaks</a> (now classified as Dargins)<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:7" href="#fn:7"><sup>7</sup></a></li><li><a href="/facts/Kalmyk_people/Ch1JPxQQ">Kalmyks</a></li><li><a href="/facts/Itelmens/dPlhqSHq">Kamchadals</a></li></ul></td><td><ul><li><a href="/facts/Karachays/ItqS5aXE">Karachays</a></li><li><a href="/facts/Tofalar/5eeJPMaU">Karagasy</a> (Tofalars)</li><li><a href="/facts/Nogais/J30aN1t7">Kara-nogais</a></li><li><a href="/facts/Karakalpaks/HvENoPmF">Karakalpaks</a></li><li><a href="/facts/Karelians/kIhIw8h1">Karelians</a></li><li><a href="/facts/Kazakhs/kHVGSwkc">Kazakhs</a></li><li><a href="/facts/Ket_people/hubkg20t">Kets</a></li><li><a href="/facts/Khakas_people/TBdAuwA9">Khakas</a></li><li><a href="/facts/Komi-Permyaks/xRGrTUBr">Komi-Permyaks</a></li><li><a href="/facts/Komi-Zyrians/xRGrTUBr">Komi-Zyrians</a></li><li><a href="/facts/Koryaks/eR7RvEa7">Koryaks</a></li><li><a href="/facts/Koryo-saram/MKsBb4Cd">Koreans</a></li><li><a href="/facts/Krymchaks/0CDVrUV3">Krymchaks</a></li><li><a href="/facts/Kumandins/qbFl5dTk">Kumandins</a></li><li><a href="/facts/Kumyks/VXxMWQxW">Kumyks</a></li><li><a href="/facts/Kurdish_people/nfHFlVlq">Kurds</a></li><li><a href="/facts/Yazidi/EKqxwqte">Kurd-ezid</a> (Yazidis)</li><li><a href="/facts/Kyrgyz_people/aYPJ0voJ">Kyrgyz</a></li><li><a href="/facts/Lak_people_(Dagestan)/3grY2IFT">Laks</a></li><li><a href="/facts/Evens/QDDndvt8">Lamuts</a> (Evens)</li><li><a href="/facts/Lezgins/KEnox6fc">Lezgins</a></li><li><a href="/facts/Sami_people/cJ9QesTc">Lopars</a> (Sami)</li><li><a href="/facts/Evenks/TdjHc0zA">Manegry</a> (Evenks)</li><li><a href="/facts/Mari_people/xlApN10b">Mari</a></li><li><a href="/facts/Moldovans/8H8X5zXB">Moldovans</a></li><li><a href="/facts/Mongols/fb4zx1s8">Mongols</a></li><li><a href="/facts/Mordvins/zcHlo6kH">Mordvins</a></li><li><a href="/facts/Na%C4%9Fayb%C3%A4k/AVPbXaod">Nagaybak</a></li><li><a href="/facts/Negidals/Kr0NUG4K">Negidals</a></li><li><a href="/facts/Nenets_people/8tLlNYoc">Nenets</a></li><li><a href="/facts/Nogais/J30aN1t7">Nogais</a></li><li><a href="/facts/Oirats/12a0BNFy">Oirats</a></li></ul></td><td><ul><li><a href="/facts/Oroch_people/gpfUP0pA">Oroch</a></li><li>Orochen (Orochon, a tribal division of Evenks)<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:8" href="#fn:8"><sup>8</sup></a></li><li><a href="/facts/Ossetians/3Eu0FFRq">Ossetians</a></li><li><a href="/facts/Khanty_people/EVH3y5BW">Ostyak</a> (Khanty)</li><li><a href="/facts/Persian_people/4GhM3jl2">Persians</a></li><li><a href="/facts/Romani_people/HAj6w0kU">Roma</a> (Gypsies)</li><li><a href="/facts/Rutuls/tPF2Gflx">Rutuls</a></li><li><a href="/facts/Nani_people/YdxcY7SR">Samagir</a> (Nanai)</li><li><a href="/facts/Shapsugs/HSR6FgQX">Shapsugs</a></li><li><a href="/facts/Shors/SmGhW5XI">Shors</a></li><li><a href="/facts/Soyot/LRNDzBoX">Soyot</a></li><li><a href="/facts/Tabasaran_people/f5SJ2jJk">Tabasarans</a></li><li><a href="/facts/Tajik_people/78Xa8RKa">Tajiks</a></li><li><a href="/facts/Taranchi/T4oMAJ97">Taranchis</a></li><li><a href="/facts/Tat_people_(Caucasus)/AmKUJydd">Tats</a></li><li><a href="/facts/Tatars/hgokK6aw">Tatars</a> (outside of the <a href="/facts/Tatar_Autonomous_Soviet_Socialist_Republic/394I27Vd">Tatar ASSR</a>)</li><li><a href="/facts/Nganasan_people/243PGk9F">Tavgi</a> (Nganasans)</li><li>Teptyars (now classified as Bashkirs)<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:9" href="#fn:9"><sup>9</sup></a></li><li><a href="/facts/Teleuts/NJe8DeNJ">Teleuts</a></li><li><a href="/facts/Evenks/TdjHc0zA">Tungus</a> (Evenks)</li><li><a href="/facts/Turkmen_people/SWL2r6f2">Turkmen</a></li><li><a href="/facts/Tuvans/JgVRE4m1">Tuvans</a></li><li><a href="/facts/Udege_people/hRPsbJym">Udege</a></li><li><a href="/facts/Udmurts/NJCXbKIM">Udmurts</a></li><li><a href="/facts/Ulch_people/X20aYqE8">Ulch</a></li><li><a href="/facts/Uyghurs/SUNJlkjn">Uyghurs</a></li><li><a href="/facts/Uzbeks/fEuHTRSV">Uzbeks</a></li><li><a href="/facts/Vepsians/yqXyJwfe">Vepsians</a></li><li><a href="/facts/Mansi_people/K768f1t5">Voguls</a> (Mansi)</li><li><a href="/facts/Votians/I9XrDCRq">Votes</a></li><li><a href="/facts/Yakuts/8lJRPNWb">Yakuts</a></li><li><a href="/facts/Yukaghir/GuKouaxd">Yukaghir</a></li></ul></td></tr></tbody></table> <h2 id="see-also">See also</h2> <ul><li><a href="/facts/Asian_witchcraft/DnAPCHvm">Asian witchcraft</a> – Various types of witchcraft practices across Asia</li> <li><a href="/facts/Civilizing_mission/lHNaM4F3">Civilizing mission</a> – Rationale or justification for colonialism</li> <li><a href="/facts/Cultural_imperialism/9qPKPpVk">Cultural imperialism</a> – Cultural aspects of imperialism</li> <li><a href="/facts/Eurocentrism/TDweDqra">Eurocentrism</a> – Worldview centred on or biased towards Western civilization</li> <li><a href="/facts/Russification/D9yUd7n9">Russification</a> – Measures to increase the influence of Russian culture and language</li> <li><a href="/facts/Scientific_racism/Ug4j9v93">Scientific racism</a> – Pseudoscientific justification for racism</li> <li><a href="/facts/Sovietization/Jcz6g5Ek">Sovietization</a> – Adoption of Soviet political system and mentality</li></ul> <h3>Works cited</h3> <ul><li>Martin, Terry Dean (2001). <i>The Affirmative Action Empire: Nations and Nationalism in the Soviet Union, 1923-1939</i>. United States: <a href="/facts/Cornell_University_Press/qbwTuIJC">Cornell University Press</a>. <a href="/facts/ISBN_(identifier)/15AdSPa9">ISBN</a> 978-0-8014-8677-7.</li> <li>Wixman, Ronald (1984). <i>The Peoples of the USSR: An Ethnographic Handbook</i>. United States: M. E. Sharpe. <a href="/facts/ISBN_(identifier)/15AdSPa9">ISBN</a> 978-0-87332-506-6.</li></ul> <h2 id="references">References</h2> <ol> <li id="fn:1"><p>Martin (2001), p. 167. - Martin, Terry Dean (2001). The Affirmative Action Empire: Nations and Nationalism in the Soviet Union, 1923-1939. United States: Cornell University Press. ISBN 978-0-8014-8677-7. <a href="#fnref:1" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:2"><p>Martin (2001), p. 56. - Martin, Terry Dean (2001). The Affirmative Action Empire: Nations and Nationalism in the Soviet Union, 1923-1939. United States: Cornell University Press. ISBN 978-0-8014-8677-7. <a href="#fnref:2" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:3"><p>Martin (2001), p. 374. - Martin, Terry Dean (2001). The Affirmative Action Empire: Nations and Nationalism in the Soviet Union, 1923-1939. United States: Cornell University Press. ISBN 978-0-8014-8677-7. <a href="#fnref:3" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:4"><p>Martin (2001), p. 166. - Martin, Terry Dean (2001). The Affirmative Action Empire: Nations and Nationalism in the Soviet Union, 1923-1939. United States: Cornell University Press. ISBN 978-0-8014-8677-7. <a href="#fnref:4" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:5"><p>Martin (2001), p. 167. - Martin, Terry Dean (2001). The Affirmative Action Empire: Nations and Nationalism in the Soviet Union, 1923-1939. United States: Cornell University Press. ISBN 978-0-8014-8677-7. <a href="#fnref:5" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:6"><p>Wixman (1984), p. 20. - Wixman, Ronald (1984). The Peoples of the USSR: An Ethnographic Handbook. United States: M. E. Sharpe. ISBN 978-0-87332-506-6. <a href="#fnref:6" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:7"><p>Wixman (1984), p. 89. - Wixman, Ronald (1984). The Peoples of the USSR: An Ethnographic Handbook. United States: M. E. Sharpe. ISBN 978-0-87332-506-6. <a href="#fnref:7" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:8"><p>Wixman (1984), p. 149. - Wixman, Ronald (1984). The Peoples of the USSR: An Ethnographic Handbook. United States: M. E. Sharpe. ISBN 978-0-87332-506-6. <a href="#fnref:8" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:9"><p>Wixman (1984), p. 190. - Wixman, Ronald (1984). The Peoples of the USSR: An Ethnographic Handbook. United States: M. E. Sharpe. ISBN 978-0-87332-506-6. <a href="#fnref:9" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> </ol>