Geographic scouts of Central Asia

Abstract

In the second half of the XIX century . Russia pursued an active policy in the Central Asian khanates, firmly determined to move its border beyond a wide strip of deserts and semi-deserts. At the same time, the rivalry between the Russian and British Empires for influence and control over the Central Asian khanates unfolded. It was a political, diplomatic and geopolitical duel, the so-called “Big Game”, in which intelligence played one of the main roles. To fulfill the tasks facing the intelligence, Russia has attracted scientific historical-geographical and military-topographic expeditions under the auspices of the Imperial Russian Geographical Society (IRGO). It was they who at the end of the XIX century. In a certain part became one of the main activities of the IRGO.

The best officers of the General Staff were attracted to participate in them. It was their heroic efforts that made it possible to fill in the gaps in the knowledge of Central Asia and, especially, its western part of Uyguria (East Turkestan) and Inner Mongolia.

In recent decades, due to the geopolitical processes that are taking place in the Eurasian space, historical, geographical achievements that have become world-wide have again attracted attention. Again, we have to hear about a new “Big Game” that takes place for the same values — resources, territories, trade routes. The tasks and political and technological methods of conducting geopolitical rivalry have changed. However, gratitude should remain in memory for having contributed to the implementation of the foreign policy of the Russian Empire by conducting intelligence research of the expanses of Central Asia.