SUMMARY:

The cognitive and political framework of Soviet ethno-federalism continues to play significant role in, and to shape, post-Soviet social and political reality. The persistence of that framework makes politicians resort to the idea of autochthonism as a means of affirming the legitimacy of contemporary sovereign states. The idea of autochthonism exerts a decisive influence over new nationalist mythology. It stands at the core of the post-Soviet politics of ethnonational consolidation. The uses of the new nationalist mythology also penetrate the discourse of international relations in the post-Soviet realm. The political demand for autochthonous and ancient ancestors powerfully frames the practice of local scholars and makes them self-impose the ethnonationalist vision of historical and social experience. The myth of ancient ancestors is exploited in the formation of national symbols of new states and it serves as the grounds for mass national holidays tailored to consolidate the nation around a single national leader. At the same time, figures of ancient ancestors are claimed by different nationalist myth-makers, leading to tensions between new sovereign states.