Korenizatsiya (коренизация), meaning "nativization" or "indigenization", was the early Soviet ethnicity policy. The policy consisted of promoting representatives of titular nations of Soviet republics and national minorities on lower levels of administrative subdivision, into local government, management, bureaucracy and nomenklatura in the corresponding national entities. The term derives from the Russian term "коренное население" (korennoye naseleniye, "root population") for indigenous nationals.

Beginning under Vladimir Lenin, its purpose was to appeal to the many non-Russian residents of the former tsarist empire and to internationalize the communist movement. It involved encouraging citizens to learn both Russian and their native languages; translating government documents; and promoting ethnic elites to positions of power within the regional soviets.

At the same time korenization was applied to other areas of the society, such as education, medicine, culture.

This policy was meant to partially reverse decades of Russification, or promotion of Russian identity over indigenous culture, that took place during the imperial period. It arguably helped the government exert its influence on the many ethnic minorities throughout the country.

The initial period of korenizatsiya went together of development of national cultures. The latter faded out by the mid-1930s, together with the reversal of Russification. However, the policy of "korenizatsiya" continued, to a lesser degree. The term itself went out of use, replaced by more bureaucratic expressions, such as "selection and placement of national cadres" (подбор и расстановка национальных кадров).

See also: History of the Soviet Union.

A similar policy was known in the history of the People's Republic of China.

Reference

Suny, Ronald G. and Terry Martin ed. A State of Nations: Empire and Nation-Making in the Age of Lenin and Stalin. New York: Oxford University Press, 2001.