Gubarevich-Radobyl’skii, A.F.: Essay on the Economy of Bukhara and Tunisia. A Comparative Research on Two Protectorate Systems

Title

Ekonomicheskii ocherk Bukhary i Tunisa. Opyt sravnitel’nogo issledovaniia dvukh sistem protektorata, Sankt-Peterburg 1905

Essay on the Economy of Bukhara and Tunisia. A Comparative Research on Two Protectorate Systems

Keywords

Summary

The essay is divided into five sections: Agriculture; Industries; Trades; Finances; and Bases for the Further Development of the Russian Protectorate System in the Khanate. Each topic is considered in relation to the situation in both Bukhara and Tunisia. In the preface, the author explains that Russia can be compared to colonial France to some extent with regard to their “state life”, which makes France’s example quite useful. He continues by stating that “Tunisia, like Bukhara, is a Muslim-ruled country. The Bey of Tunisia has retained the same leadership functions as the Emir of Bukhara […]. Considering what two or three decades of domination by sovereign countries has led to in Tunisia and Bukhara could offer some interesting analogies and comparisons, which in turn should lead to further tasks to be accomplished in Bukhara. France’s colonial experience is also important because the French demonstrate complete tolerance and benevolence towards the natives, as well as compassionate proselytism from a superior race with innate magnanimity. Russia is also distinguishable in its treatment of conquered native tribes by its high tolerance, broad understanding, and recognition of the differences between foreign cultures and manners”.

Bio

Anton Gubarevich-Radobyl’skii was a lieutenant and later a customs officer. Born in Poland, he attended the Kostantinovskoe Artillery School in Saint Petersburg, where he organised a revolutionary military circle with fellow students, having become fascinated with the ideas of Narodnaia Volia. Following graduation, he was posted to the Novocherkassk Infantry Regiment and subsequently to the 4^th Turkestan Line Battalion. He was arrested for anti-government activities in 1884 and, upon his release, was placed under two years of special supervision. In 1886, the year he was dismissed from military service, he was permitted to move to Tashkent. While in Tashkent, he devoted himself to writing and began working at the Sirdaryo region’s customs department, later becoming its manager. His rapid career progression saw him become manager of the Bukhara customs department, and from 1910 the Turkestan customs district. He is the author of several essays, most of which focus on the economy of Central Asia.

Sources

“Gubarevich-Radobyl’skii, Anton Frantsevich”, in Deiateli revoliutsionnogo dvizheniia v Rossii. Bio-bibliograficheskii slovar’, t. 3.1, ed. by M. Klevenskii et al., Moskva 1933, clmns. 1007-1008.

A.F.