Shadow Trade: Unraveling Maritime Smuggling Between the Russian and Ottoman Empires (1853-1914).

STASH deals with the history of maritime smuggling between port cities of the Russian and Ottoman Empires during the transformative period 1853 to 1914, focusing on three maritime regions the Black Sea, the Azov Sea, and the Southeastern Mediterranean.The two empires, at the core of the Eastern Question, occupied a central position in European economic, social, and political upheavals.

Within the context of the ongoing shifts between two empires and the development of legal trade relations in an era marked by intensified globalization and the transition from sail to steam, this project aims to shed light on aspects of illegal trade relations, an underexplored area of study.

Specifically, we will comprehensively analyse various facets of the smuggling of both goods and people within the established trade routes and networks.

The study will examine the macrostructure of the smuggling linkages, focusing on the hinterland of production/origin of clandestine trade and the foreland, the destination of material and human cargoes. It aims to identify the main nodes of export and import and the means of transportation.

The research team comprises a PI, three senior researchers, six post-doctoral researchers, and two PhD candidates from Ukraine, Turkey, Romania, Italy, and Greece.

They will utilize unpublished archival sources to produce two collective volumes, numerous articles, two PhD dissertations, organize four workshops, and an international conference, create an archival and bibliographical corpus, and produce a documentary film. The project aims to advance our knowledge of inter-imperial relations beyond conventional geopolitical approaches.

Understanding how these two neighbouring powers navigated their shadow relations adds depth to our comprehension of the broader Eastern European economic, social, and political relations and introduces new layers to our appreciation of the regions modern history.