Really thoughtful and interesting piece on how to change the language we use about the old eastern bloc – the author suggests “New East” although accepts that term is “not without its problems”. Worth a read!
The breakup of the USSR is an ongoing process though.
India gained independence 74 years ago, yet people still (for some reason I don’t understand) call it “post-imperial Britain”.
So sorry, you are going to need to wait a bit longer for people to stop saying ‘post-Soviet’.
Do people refer to eastern europe as post-soviet?
revisionism
Given that the Russian head of state is a former KGB agent, no. The Soviet Union didn’t collapse, it just contracted.
Post-socialist is more my taste, it includes other formerly socialist countries outside the USSR.
Russia is activly trying to re-conquer the soviet union, so no.
Given the scars it still drags all over eastern Europe it is still relevant. The communists created an extreme amount of issues that the post soviet nations still deal with today, so in many contexts it is very relevant. And sadly it takes far more time than 30 years to repair the damage done by the soviets.
We could switch to use ‘post-non-Soviet’ for all other places.
Do not use this term! I repeat do not! We are long past this point and it is irrelevant at this time at least for the Baltic.
15 comments
Really thoughtful and interesting piece on how to change the language we use about the old eastern bloc – the author suggests “New East” although accepts that term is “not without its problems”. Worth a read!
The breakup of the USSR is an ongoing process though.
Cue ‘ex-Soviet’…
“It’s Complicated”
[Post Reagan era works too.](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/84/President_Ronald_Reagan_and_Nancy_Reagan_in_Red_Square_Moscow_USSR.jpg)
India gained independence 74 years ago, yet people still (for some reason I don’t understand) call it “post-imperial Britain”.
So sorry, you are going to need to wait a bit longer for people to stop saying ‘post-Soviet’.
Do people refer to eastern europe as post-soviet?
revisionism
Given that the Russian head of state is a former KGB agent, no. The Soviet Union didn’t collapse, it just contracted.
Post-socialist is more my taste, it includes other formerly socialist countries outside the USSR.
Russia is activly trying to re-conquer the soviet union, so no.
Given the scars it still drags all over eastern Europe it is still relevant. The communists created an extreme amount of issues that the post soviet nations still deal with today, so in many contexts it is very relevant. And sadly it takes far more time than 30 years to repair the damage done by the soviets.
We could switch to use ‘post-non-Soviet’ for all other places.
Do not use this term! I repeat do not! We are long past this point and it is irrelevant at this time at least for the Baltic.
Why current have some one used post-Soviet ?