Authors

Alina Soloviova¹;  ¹ European University Institude, Italy

Discussion

I consider the features of de-imperialization, decolonization and decommunization through the lens of the Ukrainian experience. In my research on the analysis of the causes, consequences and features of colonization processes in Ukraine, I take as a basis the time period from 1917 to 1991, while paying special attention to the historical aspects of the introduction of Russian colonial influence in Ukraine during the founding of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR). I argue that the main processes of de-imperialization in the context of Ukrainian-Russian relations begin in 1991, when Ukraine became an independent state freed from the totalitarian control of Moscow.

Based on the analysis of normative legal acts of the Union of the SSR and normative acts of the republican level, I claim that the legal declaration of the Union of the SSR as a "federation of equal Soviet Socialist Republics" did not correspond to the actual state of affairs. In practice, Russia dominated and mostly determined the policy towards other republics, including Ukraine. In addition, laws were passed in the Soviet Union that restricted the use of the Ukrainian language and promoted the Russian language, the policy of eliminating national self-consciousness was pursued, and the idea of the uniqueness of the “Soviet man” and the “Soviet people” was introduced. I claim that since 1917, Ukraine became a colony of Soviet Russia, and later - of the Soviet Union. Russia exercised political, economic and cultural control over Ukraine.

To confirm my point of view, I analyze the causes and consequences of the famine of 1932-1933, processes of repression and political persecution. I dwell on the peculiarities of the policy of economic dependence, when Ukraine actually became an economic colony of the Soviet Union, specializing in the supply of agricultural products and other resources. Based on the analysis of archival materials of the National Archives of Ukraine, I analyze Russia's policy of cultural control over Ukraine.

I consider the concept of "decolonization" in interdependence with the concept of "decommunization." I argue that decommunization is a narrower term and is essentially a kind of (distinct aspect of) decolonization. I reveal the concept of decommunization in relation to the totalitarian communist regime, that is, the political regime in Ukraine from 1917 to 1991. I note that the policy of decommunization in Ukraine in the modern period is determined by a number of reasons that have historical prerequisites.