Soviet And Post-soviet Identities

This book is a collection of essays that explore the ways in which different aspects of culture have addressed the question of identity in the years following the collapse of the Soviet Union. The essays cover a variety of topics, from attitudes to language to the use of passports, and cover a wide range of topics, from food shortages to attempts by officials to control popular religion. The book is well-organized and easy to read, and it provides a wealth of original information in regards to Soviet and post-Soviet identities.

Since the Soviet Union collapsed in 1991, questions of identity have dominated the culture not only of Russia, but of all the countries of the former Soviet bloc. This timely collection examines the ways in which cultural activities such as fiction, TV, cinema, architecture and exhibitions have addressed these questions and also describes other cultural flashpoints, from attitudes to language to the use of passports. It discusses definitions of political and cultural nationalism, as well as the myths, institutions and practices that moulded and expressed national identity. From post-Soviet recollections of food shortages to the attempts by officials to control popular religion, it analyses a variety of unexpected and compelling topics to offer fresh insights about this key area of world culture. Illustrated with numerous photographs, it presents the results of recent research in an accessible and lively way. Review: '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