English Language and Culture

Title: Post-sovietism

Name: Gaponova Ekaterina

ID number: 200720970116

Teacher’s name: Mark Eades

School: Business Administration

Major: Business Administration

Date: 21/06/2021
Post-sovietism is a controversial and experimental term coined by the
Russian philosopher and sociologist Alexander Zinoviev. From his point of
view, this is an artificially created system in Russia, formed after the collapse
of the USSR. It cannot be said that it is especially developed in the academic
field, in the spoken language we also often use another word “post-soviet”.
Nevertheless, it seems quite interesting to me, not as a Zinoviev’s system, but
as a term that most vividly describes the trends and phenomena that exist in
the post-soviet space. In this research essay I will try to collect all my
knowledge and personal experience accumulated during my life in Russia and
analyze how the history of the state, ideology and events of that time
influenced the modern social system and the thinking of Russians. I will touch
upon such topics as contrasts and paradoxes of post-soviet country, as well
as the national idea of its inhabitants.

The Soviet Union is a great country located from the Baltic Sea to the Pacific
Ocean. It was this state that defeated Nazi Germany and sent a man into
space for the first time in the world. It is the first socialist state with free
education and medicine in the world. This is the homeland of great scientists
and athletes, a superpower that the whole world reckoned with, but as we
know any empire has a downside. The history of the Soviet Union has been
overshadowed by massive repression and creepy camp systems, censorship,
the Iron Curtain, shortages and queues, unification in everything from food
and clothing to party and religion. The Red Empire lasted only 69 years and in
1991 split into 15 different states. The red sun burned to ashes. Some people
believe that the USSR was purposefully destroyed by the external forces,
others that the system has outlived its usefulness and people just stopped
believing in it. For some people, this was the beginning of freedom, for others,
the biggest catastrophe of the 20th century. One way or another, the USSR
no longer exists, but I and my compatriots are here now, in post-sovietism.

“Ideology for a person and his consciousness is a support, charter,

regulations, leadership, in whatever specific image the person himself may
be.” ¹ Previously, ideologies made the world more understandable, gave a

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person a sense of life and a sense of belonging, offered an image of the
future. At some point, it became an instrument in the hands of political elites,
but the tragedies of the 20th century taught a person to be more circumspect,
think critically and respect other people's lives more than their own ideas.
However, they left us alone, without ideology we must look for ourselves and
the image of our future again. What to believe, what to strive for, who are we?

Writer Anna Pavlovskaya said: “Russia is a country full of contrasts and

paradoxes.” ² Let's take this as a thesis and try to figure out why many people
can agree with her opinion. After the collapse of the great power, we were left
with a huge legacy - free medicine and education, the pride of victory over
Nazi Germany, the triumph of bureaucracy, Lenin streets in every city and
even a mausoleum on the main square of the capital. The formation of
modern Russia was not without innovations, such as westernism. Zinoviev
explained: “I call the social system of Western countries westernism.” ³ This
term includes the market economy, globalization, conspicuous consumption,
democracy, pop culture. Now we have free media, a bunch of brands and
even foreign music, here in Russia. We cannot forget about national
minorities, an integral part of the USSR. Multinationality, as before, remains
one of the main features of the country. Likewise, the Russians could not exist
without Orthodoxy, autocracy, nationality and paganism. All these things put
together are post-sovietism. Returning to the idea that Russia is a country of
paradoxes, I can assume that you agree with the opinion of Anna
Pavlovskaya now, just like me.

After the collapse of the USSR, mass decommunization began. The libraries
were cleaned, monuments dismantled, cities and villages returned to their
historical names. We begin to build democracy, try to transform the economy
and begin to write a new constitution, but even 30 years later, we still fail to
say goodbye to the legacy of the Soviet Union. The truth is that this part of our
history is really very important, but we cannot allow it to rule our future. After
all, hardly anyone wants to return to the Soviet canteen, where opposite there
is a food court with all the cuisines of the world.

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Modern and young Russia found itself in deep economic, ideological and
political crises. Nobody knew what to do next, what to hope for. The identity of
the Russian person was inextricably linked with the Soviet Union, so people
asked themselves the question "Who to be, if not a soviet person? Who is a
Russian and what do we know about him, do Russians have a unifying idea?
Writer and member of the State Duma committee Sergei Shargunov once had
a brilliant thought: “The national idea grows from the Russian soil, from the
Russian heart. It does not need to be invented in offices and lowered from
above, fixing it on bureaucratic papers.” ⁴ Having studied the topic deeper, I
can say that there is no such idea, but there is a complex of ideas that unites
people. For example, the victory over fascism is something that almost every
Russian is proud of. This topic should include the idea of an empire also, a
great power with a huge territory with claims to a special status and authority
in the world. In addition to the idea of superiority, there is also a sacrifice
complex. Many people think that Russia is hated or feared by every country in
the world. Despite the categorical and superficial ideas, there is still order in
the country, it is ensured by the hope for the best, fear for themselves, fear of
war, which is the reverse side of militarism, fear of poverty since the incomes
of the population are falling. People fear the state more than criminals,
because the society is dominated by uncertainty and the desire for some
predictability. People rely only on themselves and adapt to this. What gives
people self-esteem is the level of consumption, status things are measured
not by merit and achievements, but through the level of social consumption.
Lacking a national thought or an image of the future, we demonstratively
conspire, including due to the comparison with the West. People believe that
they are not like others, that Russia has a special way, a special civilization.

The history of the state influences social organization and self-identity. These
are the foundations and morals accumulated over the centuries, which are
passed on from generation to generation. But do Russians know their history
so well? “Russians respect history - 96% told sociologists that it is important
to know the history of Russia. At the same time, citizens critically assess their
own knowledge. 40% think that they know history poorly and another 7% -

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very poorly.” ⁵ According to various studies by sociologists, the balance
between knowledge and blind pride is shifted in the Russian state.

The demands and tendencies of modern society can be presented as stability,

security and spiritual bonds. Bureaucracy, corruption, poverty, social
inequality are the problems of Russia, keeping up with love for the
motherland, language, culture, patriotism. Leadership and democracy,
feminism and conservatism, activism and apoliticality, Orthodoxy and
mysticism - all of this is modern Russia, all of this is post-sovietism.

Contrasts, ideas and different meanings are the reality of post-sovietism. In

the USSR people were told who they are and what to believe, but with the
breakdown of the union the soviet person also disappeared. What unites
people in post-sovietism? Unfortunately, this is pessimism and lack of faith in
a bright future. A country is not just a place on the map. First of all, it is the
people. There is uncertainty and darkness ahead, but only knowledge, values
and inspiration will help us to find the right path. Russia is famous for its
fascinating history, but it is time to look forward, not backward. It is time to let
go what people don't really need and accept what they can't let go, look for
the good, in what they can believe.

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 Bibliography
1. Scientific Council “Center of social sciences of MSU”. “Russia and
Ideology”. Edited by Yuri Osipov. Moscow State University Press,
2020.
2. Anna Pavlovskaya. “Russian world. Part 1”.SelfPub Press, 2019.
3. Alexander Zinoviev. “The rise of Westernism”. Tsyentrpoligraf, 1995.
4. Marina Tretyakova. “National Idea of Russia: what it is and why is it
needed”. Parliamentary newspaper, 2018.
https://www.pnp.ru/social/nacionalnaya-ideya-rossii-chto-eto-takoe-i-
zachem-ona-nuzhna.html
5. Victor Khamraev. “Russians are confused about dates and
personalities. VTSIOM found out what and how citizens know from the
history of the country”. Kommersant, 2017.
https://www.kommersant.ru/doc/3409875