SUMMARY:

The article by Marina Vitukhnovskaia-Kauppala explores the multidimensional processes of national mobilization of Russian Karelians that took place in the context of the Civil War (1918–1922).
In the prerevolutionary decade, Russian Karelians retained the type of identity that could be characterized as protonationalism (Eric Hobsbawm). This identity was retained despite the project of assimilation of Karelians into the Finnish and Russian nations. Karelians’ national consciousness was activated under the impact of the February revolution. The representatives of this people raised their voices in favor of regional autonomy as did many other of the empire’s nationalities. The subsequent national mobilization of Karelians was influenced by the Bolshevik policy of class segregation in the village (in Olonets Karelia) as well as “liberation” missions from Finland to White Sea Karelia in 1918. Pressure was exerted by the Russian Red and White armies, White Finnish military expeditions, the British, and the Serbs. The dire economic situation led to social differentiation of the Karelian national movement. The national Karelian movement comprised different dimensions that developed on the basis of a pan-Finnish idea; Bolshevik-supported Red Karelia in the Soviet Russia; the movement of “Karelia for Karelians.” The movement of “Karelia for Karelians” arose primarily in the region of White Sea Karelia. It created its own military force that was tasked with ousting the Finns from White Sea Karelia. The ultimate goal of this movement was the creation of independent Karelia. The provisional government of White Sea Karelia was elected in 1919. It spread its authority to nearly all counties (volost’) of Karelian territory. However, given the overwhelming superiority of the Bolshevik forces, Karelian autonomy was liquidated. “Karelia for Karelians” was the slogan of the mature Karelian nationalism that was born in the context of national mobilization of 1919 and reflected the spirit of the Karelian people’s national movement. It was not realized.