Korenizatsiya , sometimes also called
korenization, meaning "nativization" or "indigenization", literally "putting down roots", was the early
Soviet nationalities policy promoted mostly in the 1920s but with a continuing legacy in later years. The primary policy consisted of promoting representatives of
titular nations of
Soviet republics and national minorities on lower levels of the administrative subdivision of the state, 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.