Repatriation of Circassians as a resource for political mobilization: a transnational approach

The article is devoted to the issue of Circassian repatriation, considered as a resource for the Circassian nation-building. The authors analyze one of the newest approaches to repatriation, which defines it as transnational phenomenon. Through immersion in the history of Circassian repatriation and analysis of the main actors of this process, the authors identify prerequisites for the formation of the transnational approach to repatriation and reveal its essential characteristics and key actors. The transnational approach to repatriation does not mean resettlement to the homeland for permanent residence with a complete breakdown of ties with the diaspora, but the continuation of relations with both the historical homeland and the diaspora. The main point for authors is the concept of transnation which stands behind transnational repatriation. The authors come to the conclusion that the key obstacle standing in the way of the Circassian national movement towards the creation of a nation is the multiplicity of competing national projects proposing to continue nation-building on the basis of either Soviet nationalities, or Adyghe unity, or Adyghe-Abkhazian brotherhood, or an all-Caucasian unity...