The historiographical significance of K. K. Palen’s inspection reports in the Turkestan region in 1908-1909

https://doi.org/10.35912/ajh.v5i1.3547
Published: Oct 13, 2025

Abstract:

Purpose: This study explores the historical significance of the senatorial inspection led by Count K.K. Palen in Turkestan during 1908–1909. It aims to understand the political, economic, and cultural dynamics of the region under Russian colonial rule and assess how these reports shaped historiography on early 20th-century Central Asia.

Research methodology: The research applies a qualitative historical approach through textual and historiographical analysis of Palen’s inspection reports, official records, and contemporary publications. Comparative evaluation was conducted to interpret the collected data in the context of colonial administration and regional transformation.

Results: The findings reveal that the inspection exposed widespread corruption and maladministration while simultaneously producing reliable empirical data, including the only comprehensive household survey of dehkan farms in Turkestan before 1917. The reports provide valuable insights into land use, governance structures, and socio-economic changes driven by Russia’s expansionist policies.

Conclusions: Palen’s reports serve as a fundamental source for reconstructing the realities of colonial Turkestan. They illustrate the duality of Russia’s civilizing mission and the exploitation of resources, offering both critical evidence of systemic flaws and documentation of modernization processes.

Limitations: The inspection materials, while rich, reflect the perspectives of Russian officials and may underrepresent indigenous voices and experiences.

Contribution: This study contributes to Central Asian historiography by positioning Palen’s inspection as a unique and comprehensive documentary source for analyzing governance, economic practices, and colonial discourse.

Keywords:
1. Colonialism
2. Historiography
3. K.K. Palen
4. Turkestan
5. Uzbekistan
Authors:
Nodira Sirojovna Nuritdinova
Tashkent State University of Economics,Tashkent, Uzbekistan
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Nuritdinova, N. S. . (2025). The historiographical significance of K. K. Palen’s inspection reports in the Turkestan region in 1908-1909 . Annals of Justice and Humanity, 5(1), 39–49. https://doi.org/10.35912/ajh.v5i1.3547
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Vol. 5 No. 1 (2025): December
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    Dollu, D. Y., & Karbeka, Y. P. (2025). Recht finding of the Constitutional Court In the perspective of the rule of law and democracy (Study of the Decision of the Constitutional Court of the Republic of Indonesia, Number: 90/PUU-XXI/2023). Dynamics of Politics and Democracy, 4(2), 41-51. doi:https://doi.org/10.35912/dpd.v4i2.3346

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    Kozhakuly, O. (2023). Repercussions of the resettlement policy of the tsarist government in the Turkestan area (XIX-XX centuries). Journal of history, 111. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.26577/JH.2023.v111.i4.03

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    Mustafayev, B. I. (2025). Improving the professional training of music culture teachers. Journal of Multidisciplinary Academic and Practice Studies, 3(3), 613-620. doi:https://doi.org/10.35912/jomaps.v3i3.3169

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    Palen, K. K. (1911). Materials for a Characterization of the National Economy in Turkestan.

    Peterson, M. K. (2016). Engineering Empire. Russian and foreign hydraulic experts in Central Asia, 1887?1917. Cahiers du monde russe. Russie-Empire russe-Union soviétique et États indépendants, 57(57/1), 125-146. doi:https://doi.org/10.4000/monderusse.8336

    Riyadi, S. (2025). Law enforcement against Indonesian army soldiers committing the criminal act of bigamy (Case Study of Supreme Court Decision Number 108 K/MIL/2023). Dynamics of Politics and Democracy, 4(1), 1-16. doi:10.35912/dpd.v4i1.2981

    Ryvkin, D., & Serra, D. (2020). Corruption and competition among bureaucrats: An experimental study. Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, 175, 439-451. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jebo.2017.12.026

    Saydullayevich, B. Z. (2025). The role of the social state in enhancing civic responsibility in society. Journal of Multidisciplinary Academic and Practice Studies, 3(3), 699-708. doi:https://doi.org/10.35912/jomaps.v3i3.3260

    Sembiring, I., Fadlan, F., Fadhil, S., Respationo, S., & Nurkhotijah, S. (2025). Juridical analysis of the effectiveness of the investigation of Sailing Approval (SPB) violations at the Ditpolairud Riau Islands Police. Dynamics of Politics and Democracy, 5(1), 1-9. doi:https://doi.org/10.35912/dpd.v5i1.3393

    Shulatov, Y. A. (2019). Russia as a “Trauma”. Russia in Global Affairs, 4. doi:https://doi.org/10.31278/1810-6374-2019-17-4-78-108

    Skvirskaja, V. (2024). Twisted Trajectories and Jewish-Muslim Interfaces: Bukharan Jews of Central Asia in Vienna. The Copenhagen Journal of Asian Studies, 41, 57-81. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.22439/cjas.v41i2.7107

    Sobirovich, T. B. (2020). The role of the strategy of spiritual renewal in the development of a democratic society in Uzbekistan. Lessons of Imam Bukhari, 2, 118-121.

    Syukur, I. B., Wibisono, C., & Wahyuni, E. S. (2025). The influence of ex-officio leadership, organizational culture, loyalty, and organizational commitment on job satisfaction with career path mediation among BP Batam employees. Journal of Multidisciplinary Academic and Practice Studies, 3(3), 733-745. doi:https://doi.org/10.35912/jomaps.v3i3.3358

    Temirova, S. V. (2023). The Introduction of A System of Colonial Administrative and Political Governance in Turkestan by the Russian Empire and the Transformation Processes in the Process of Population Resettlement Policy. The American Journal of Political Science Law and Criminology, 5(4), 93-105. doi:https://doi.org/10.37547/tajpslc/Volume05Issue04-15

    Tursunmetov, A., Azimbayev, M., Pugovkina, O., Tukhtayeva, M., & Jamshid, A. (2020). Essays On Historiography And Source Studies On The History Of Statehood In Uzbekistan// Journal Of Critical Reviews. Journal of Critical Reviews. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.31838/jcr.07.09.18

    Vasilyev, D. (2018). A classic example of Orientalism. Memoirs of K. K. Palen as a view of a high-ranking official on the mission of Russia in the Turkestan region. Vestnik of Orenburg State Pedagogical University. Electronic Scientific Journal, 87-100. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.32516/2303-9922.2018.28.8

    Widodo, S. (2025). Criminological analysis of narcotics crime verdicts committed by members of the military (Study of Military Court Decisions). Dynamics of Politics and Democracy, 4(1), 17-31. doi:https://doi.org/10.35912/dpd.v4i1.2982

    Yadi, M., Fadlan, F., Parameshwara, P., Respationo, S., & Nurkhotijah, S. (2025). Juridical analysis of law enforcement on illegal cigarettes in Batam and its impact on state excise revenue. Dynamics of Politics and Democracy, 5(1), 11-19. doi:https://doi.org/10.35912/dpd.v5i1.3394

    Zaskia, D., Sukri, S., & Basir, A. (2025). The influence of work discipline and workload on employee performance Andi Djemma RPH, North Luwu Regency. Journal of Multidisciplinary Academic and Practice Studies, 3(3), 677-688. doi:https://doi.org/10.35912/jomaps.v3i3.3186

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  2. Aronggear, Y. M., Marlissa, E. R., & Ngutra, R. N. (2025). Analysis of the management strategy for retribution revenue from sports venues in Papua Province. Dynamics of Politics and Democracy, 4(2), 27-40. doi:https://doi.org/10.35912/dpd.v4i2.3084
  3. Avazov, D. (2025). Administrative and Managerial Policy of the Russian Empire in Turkestan (Based on Materials from Kyrgyzstan). J Open & Historical Sciences of Colonialism, 1, 29-33. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.70728/jopen.his.0225.004
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  5. Castañeda Dower, P., & Markevich, A. (2018). The Stolypin reform and agricultural productivity in late imperial Russia. European Review of Economic History, 23. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/ereh/hey015
  6. Dollu, D. Y., & Karbeka, Y. P. (2025). Recht finding of the Constitutional Court In the perspective of the rule of law and democracy (Study of the Decision of the Constitutional Court of the Republic of Indonesia, Number: 90/PUU-XXI/2023). Dynamics of Politics and Democracy, 4(2), 41-51. doi:https://doi.org/10.35912/dpd.v4i2.3346
  7. Drolc, C. A., & Keiser, L. R. (2021). The importance of oversight and agency capacity in enhancing performance in public service delivery. Journal of public administration research and theory, 31(4), 773-789. doi:https://doi.org/10.1093/jopart/muaa055
  8. Heywood, P. M. (2012). Integrity management and the public service ethos in the UK: Patchwork quilt or threadbare blanket? International review of administrative sciences, 78(3), 474-493. doi:https://doi.org/10.1177/0020852312445172
  9. Khodarkovsky, M. (2020). A Colonial Empire Without Colonies: Russia’s State Colonialism in Comparative Perspective. Comparativ: Leipziger Beiträge zur Universalgeschichte und Vergleichenden Gesellschaftsforschung, 30(3). doi:https://doi.org/10.26014/j.comp.2020.03-04.06
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  11. Kozhakuly, O. (2023). Repercussions of the resettlement policy of the tsarist government in the Turkestan area (XIX-XX centuries). Journal of history, 111. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.26577/JH.2023.v111.i4.03
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  16. Mungiu-Pippidi, A., & Dadašov, R. (2016). Measuring control of corruption by a new index of public integrity. European Journal on Criminal Policy and Research, 22(3), 415-438. doi:https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.2828086
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  22. Riyadi, S. (2025). Law enforcement against Indonesian army soldiers committing the criminal act of bigamy (Case Study of Supreme Court Decision Number 108 K/MIL/2023). Dynamics of Politics and Democracy, 4(1), 1-16. doi:10.35912/dpd.v4i1.2981
  23. Ryvkin, D., & Serra, D. (2020). Corruption and competition among bureaucrats: An experimental study. Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, 175, 439-451. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jebo.2017.12.026
  24. Saydullayevich, B. Z. (2025). The role of the social state in enhancing civic responsibility in society. Journal of Multidisciplinary Academic and Practice Studies, 3(3), 699-708. doi:https://doi.org/10.35912/jomaps.v3i3.3260
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  28. Sobirovich, T. B. (2020). The role of the strategy of spiritual renewal in the development of a democratic society in Uzbekistan. Lessons of Imam Bukhari, 2, 118-121.
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  30. Temirova, S. V. (2023). The Introduction of A System of Colonial Administrative and Political Governance in Turkestan by the Russian Empire and the Transformation Processes in the Process of Population Resettlement Policy. The American Journal of Political Science Law and Criminology, 5(4), 93-105. doi:https://doi.org/10.37547/tajpslc/Volume05Issue04-15
  31. Tursunmetov, A., Azimbayev, M., Pugovkina, O., Tukhtayeva, M., & Jamshid, A. (2020). Essays On Historiography And Source Studies On The History Of Statehood In Uzbekistan// Journal Of Critical Reviews. Journal of Critical Reviews. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.31838/jcr.07.09.18
  32. Vasilyev, D. (2018). A classic example of Orientalism. Memoirs of K. K. Palen as a view of a high-ranking official on the mission of Russia in the Turkestan region. Vestnik of Orenburg State Pedagogical University. Electronic Scientific Journal, 87-100. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.32516/2303-9922.2018.28.8
  33. Widodo, S. (2025). Criminological analysis of narcotics crime verdicts committed by members of the military (Study of Military Court Decisions). Dynamics of Politics and Democracy, 4(1), 17-31. doi:https://doi.org/10.35912/dpd.v4i1.2982
  34. Yadi, M., Fadlan, F., Parameshwara, P., Respationo, S., & Nurkhotijah, S. (2025). Juridical analysis of law enforcement on illegal cigarettes in Batam and its impact on state excise revenue. Dynamics of Politics and Democracy, 5(1), 11-19. doi:https://doi.org/10.35912/dpd.v5i1.3394
  35. Zaskia, D., Sukri, S., & Basir, A. (2025). The influence of work discipline and workload on employee performance Andi Djemma RPH, North Luwu Regency. Journal of Multidisciplinary Academic and Practice Studies, 3(3), 677-688. doi:https://doi.org/10.35912/jomaps.v3i3.3186