Tag: soviet history
-
Going Against the Soviet Leadership: A Timeline of the Prague Spring of 1968
Helene Chaligne discuses Alexander Dubček rise to power in Czechoslovakia, initiating the Prague Spring with his push for reforms, including “socialism with a human face.” Despite initial success, Soviet intervention crushed the movement, reinstating severe censorship. The aftermath inspired future resistance and led to the eventual democratization in 1989.
-
The Aral Sea was a Lake: Or, How to Destroy an Ecosystem
Darcie Rogers explores The Aral Sea, once the fourth largest lake globally, has drastically diminished due to extensive irrigation and cotton monoculture initiated by the Soviet Union, leading to economic hardship and ecological disaster. Today, the region faces severe environmental challenges, including saltstorms and public health issues, stemming from decades of mismanagement and exploitation.
-
Defecting from the Soviet Union: The Story of Rudolf Nureyev’s Escape
Annika Rasmussen tells the story of ballet dancer Rudolf Nureyev.
-
Dancing Dissidents: The Soviet Culture of Ballet as a Form of Repression and Revolt
In the Soviet era, ballet served as a propaganda tool reflecting state ideology, suppressing artistic freedom while promoting Russian superiority. Kate Taylor discusses ballet’s defectors such as Nureyev and Baryshnikov to reveal how it was a tool which shaped West-USSR relations until 1991.
-
Thank You Stalin for a Happy Childhood: the Children of the Karlag
Alice Ashcroft explores the suffering of families in the Soviet Gulag system.
-
Surviving a Breakup: The Maoist Perspective
In 1949, Mao’s victory transformed China, adopting Soviet-style governance. Emilio Luppino explores China’s ‘breakup’ with Soviet rule and the autonomous path charted by Mao.
-
The Shackles of the “New Soviet Woman”: How the Women of the Gulag Expose Fraudulent Claims to Gender Equality in the USSR
Olivia Hiskett explores how the Gulag exposes the contradiction between Soviet gender equality claims and women’s harsh realities, reflecting on their systemic oppression and exploitation.
-
Statues of Soviets: The case of Grutas Park, Lithuania
Darcy Gresham examines Grutas Park in Lithuania, a unique site for preserving Soviet-era statues.
Retrospect Journal 