Dagestan de-constructed: failed multiculturalism and internal borders in a borderland region

Abstract

Dagestan, a borderland republic within the Russian Federation, presents a unique case study of how ethnic diversity can create internal fragmentation rather than unified multiculturalism. This study examines how the coexistence of over 30 officially recognised ethnic groups and 14 languages has paradoxically resulted in rigid internal boundaries that divide rather than unite society. Through qualitative fieldwork involving interviews and participant observation, this research reveals how Dagestan's diversity has created what I term 'failed multiculturalism' - where diversity becomes a source of division rather than strength. The findings demonstrate that ethnic diversity does not automatically lead to successful multicultural integration, but can produce fragmented societies where internal boundaries prove as divisive as international borders.