Soviet and Post-Soviet Identities

Understanding Cultural Dynamics in Post-Soviet Society

Catriona Kelly editor Mark Bassin editor

Format:Hardback

Publisher:Cambridge University Press

Published:26th Apr '12

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Soviet and Post-Soviet Identities cover

This collection explores national identity in post-Soviet Russia, addressing cultural activities and their role in shaping societal understanding since 1991. Soviet and Post-Soviet Identities provides valuable insights.

This collection offers a fresh perspective on post-Soviet Russia and Eurasia, delving into the Soviet historical context that continues to influence the present. It emphasizes the concept of national identity, exploring how this notion was perceived during the final decades of Soviet power and how it has evolved since the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991. With a focus on cultural activities, the book examines the significant role of fiction, television, cinema, architecture, and exhibitions in shaping and reflecting these identities.

Since the collapse of the Soviet Union, identity-related questions have dominated the cultural landscape not only in Russia but across all former Soviet states. The collection investigates how various cultural phenomena address these complex issues and highlights critical cultural flashpoints, including language attitudes and the implications of passport usage. It provides a thorough analysis of political and cultural nationalism, alongside the myths and practices that have defined and expressed national identity.

From personal recollections of food shortages to the attempts by authorities to manage popular religion, Soviet and Post-Soviet Identities covers a range of unexpected yet fascinating topics. The book is richly illustrated with photographs and presents the findings of recent research in an engaging and accessible manner, offering fresh insights into this vital area of global culture.

'This is an insightful and informative volume, which provides a wealth of original information in relation to Soviet and post-Soviet identities. The links made between the past and present are particularly valuable, showing the ways in which the past is embedded in, and central for, understanding what is happening in the present. The range of themes and the geographical spread of the book are impressive, as is the use of empirical material in many of the chapters. It is an excellent source for academics and students alike in the field of Soviet and post-Soviet identity studies and it also has great relevance in a comparative sense beyond the region.' Moya Flynn, Slavonica
'Bringing into dialogue some of the most engaging and innovative new research on the construction of social identity in the Soviet and post-Soviet states, this volume is an impressive achievement and valuable contribution to the field.' Victoria Donovan, Modern Language Review
'Soviet and Post-Soviet Identities is a significant contribution to Slavic studies and to the field of nationhood studies more generally.' Andrea Lanoux, The Russian Review

ISBN: 9781107011175

Dimensions: 229mm x 152mm x 22mm

Weight: 680g

386 pages