Authors

Daniel Horn²; Gavin Slade³; Laura Piacentini¹;  ¹ University of Strathclyde, UK;  ² University of Essex, UK;  ³ Nazarbayev University, Kazakhstan

Discussion

The current paper explores the implications of using currently available spatial data on Gulag facilities (camps) in the former Soviet Union (fSU). It argues that while the enormous work of locating these facilities by previous researchers has yielded valuable data and insights, a considerable amount of work remains to accurately estimate spatial effects related to the Gulag and associated establishments. Findings show that available data is insufficient to accurately estimate potential spatial effects due to implicit exclusion and inclusion errors illustrating the complexity of this using a case study of Karlag in the Republic of Kazakhstan. It makes use of a unique dataset of public values, historical memory items, and spatial variables to illustrate the ramifications misspecification of historical phenomena. In particular, (a) data used to approximate Gulag locations is inherently flawed; (b) exclusion and inclusion errors inherent in the current data offerings lead to inconsistent interpretations of the legacy of Gulag for local communities; and (c) more collaborative approaches across scientific disciplines and various stakeholders is required. This has implications for social scientists working in the field of penal sociology, carceral geography, memory studies, as well as those seeking to bridge disciplines to address a persistent and growing issue regarding the study of the Gulag.