TASHKENT UZBEKISTAN IN 1982

All too often, I find that the media and texts dealing with the Soviet Union and former Soviet Union focus exclusively on a few topics, such as poverty, human rights, or military conflict. This leaves people with a very biased view of what society may actually look like. The former USSR covers a wide range of cultures, languages, ethnicities and environments.

I have collected a few video clips to broaden the range of coverage of daily life.

MOSCOW, RUSSIA, SOVIET UNION,1982

I found this clip showing scenes from the city in 1982

THE SILK ROAD CITY - SAMARKAND

Much of Post Soviet Central Asia was off the popular radar during the 1990s until Afghanistan was invaded in 2001. This clip shows some scenes from Samarkand, historically an important location also for practicing Muslims ranking, I believe, fourth in terms of pilgram sites.

(Map Source)

Саакашвили ответил за галстук

TRANS-SIBERIAN RAILWAY - CROSSING YENISEY

The vast openness of Russia. This video I found on youtube provides some imagery of the Yenisey.

THE REAL PURPOSE OF RADIO FREE EUROPE

I always thought that the truth was better revealed through (at least) a two way dialogue. What strikes me as more than odd (at least one thing in this clip) is that they did not establish Radio Receivers. Apparently Reagan believes he holds the truth and it is his mission to dictate the truth to others, almost like it is his life's duty to help those in darkness see the light he holds. I think it would have been better to export Star Wars episodes instead, but they came along a little time after this was shot. So I cannot blame him for that.

КРУШЕНИЕ СССР

И ВСЁ БУДЕТ НА АНГЛИЙСКОМ

This is a classic clip from Krushchev's visit to the USA and one of his meetings with President Nixon. I am surprised, looking at this video, first by how much more civilized the discussion seems to be than the meetings between the USA and other countries today, which I would characterise as far more hawkish or bullyish. I would have a hard time imaginging Bush junior meeting in a similar way with the President of Iran, or having as cordial of a chat with Putin. All of this despite the fact that the Cold War is supposed to be over?? (or is it? Or has it just changed in form with some new characters? Certainly the construction of weapons remains huge in most of the former countries involved and many of the key advisors are the same, however.)

I enjoyed the clip for other reasons. It shows I think a very human side to the two leaders in their exchange. Although Nixon at first attempts to take the leading role, Krushchev does not let him get away with simply stating that the Soviet Union has to be open to a free exchange of ideas. After all, he is on US Colour television and even suggests that whatever he says in Russian ought to be translated into English for the US audience to make conditions "equal."

IT WAS LIFE AS USUAL

BEYOND TRANSLATION

I wonder what it would feel like to be the interpreter in this situation?

STEPPING THROUGH MOSCOW - Я ИДУ ШАГАЮ ПО МОСКВЕ

In 2000, on my way from Kharkov, Ukraine, to Moscow by train, the border guard asked me where I was from. I showed my Canadian passport and he happily started singing some song in Russian. I think it was "White Snows Over Toronto??" Everyone sitting around me was waiting, I think, for me to join in with him in what he assumed was a well known popular song, even the Russian version, to any Canadian.

He paused suddenly after singing alone. Then he asked me very formally what my business was in going to Russia. I realised I must have embarassed him by choosing not to sing along in a song I MUST KNOW. Fortunately for me, one of my favorite films of all time that I first watched on TV in Tashkent has a popular hit song. I politely replied, " Я иду шагаю по Москве!"

The imagery that I had of Moscow based on TV during the cold war era was mostly of serious looking stiff men with medals standing above Red Square for military displays, harsh, cold war rhetoric and military music playing in the background. The reality is far different. A large city of affection, warm and sunny in summer, cold, snowwy and white in winter. In any season, strolling through the streets has a kind of romatic charm that many would associate with maybe a combination of Paris, Barcelona, and the rush and bustle of London.

The ending of the film captures some of the charm. Some other videos using the original theme song also touches upon the nostalgia for strolling through the grand city. This home video, uses a newer version of the main theme capturing a glimse of a modern day stroll across Red Square.

A new version with Артём Михалков who stars in My Moscow, which shows a much more romanticised version of the modern city.

I Step Through Moscow (TV-spot for TV Zvezda)

Other links:

The home guitar version along with the classic - Москва слезам не верит

(Poster Source: Nikita Mikhalkov on 1964 Film Poster)

RUSSIAN RAP NOT LIVE FROM NEW YORK

From Brighton Beach

Жёсткий Бит

Русский рэп

Вендетта

Отпусти

Артём Лоик

PUTIN ENDORSES HIP HOP

At first glance, I expected Vladimir Putin to actually join in this rap session. Instead, he offers his views on hip hop as an expression that should be valued in society and a valid form of raising awareness of social issues.

The Russia House - Русский Дом - Русский Отдел

Not the blockbuster that the latest Le Carre novel-turned film might be. The Russia House however is a great film covering the early years of Soviet break up. The scenes, sound track, dialgoue and setting capture much of the cold war mind sets that continue to plague international relations. I am shocked at how well the film captures the characters and I can imagine so many people I have met in the Former Soviet Republics who resemble, almost too closely, many of those depicted in the film.

The translation of the title is also worth noting. There are two in use in Russia, both provided in the title above. The reason is that the first is a direct translation of the English words. The second, however, captures the idea in the film, that the Russia House is the internal Department dedicated to Russian affairs. The English does not refer to a Russian house so much as it does - the Russian Department.



The Tribute to the Film

The Soviet Breakup: Its less about you and more about me

Dissolution, by Edward Walker, is a concise, well written book that challenges much of the popular myths associated with the collapse of the USSR. One of the primary one's quickly dismissed in this book is that oppressed ethno-linguistic minorities demanded freedom and left the Union. Instead of demand side forces to split up the union, which were not as widespread as typically believed, this book outlines supply side factors. In particular, the term sovereignty was vague enough that when used to argue for more power and control, it paved the way for 15 republics to suddenly find themselves as newly independent nation states recognized by the international community - and only 15 - despite the number of ethnicities in the USSR numbering more than 120 and there having been 53 members.

THE RUSSIANS AREN'T COMING!

The Russian Threat: its Myths and realities, by Jim Garrison and Pyare Shivpuri, might seem outdated, having been published in 1983. The world has changed so much since then and besides, the USSR has collapsed. However, much remains as it was. One of the core ingredients in the view that the Russian and Soviet Empire poses a threat to the USA, democracy, world order and a way of life is based on a military-industrial complex in the USA. When so many people are employed in a sector that relies on warfare, it pays to see threats looming even if they are not there. This book is a valuable read about the reality of the threat posed and the costs to humanity of letting this "threat" grow so far out of proportion.

Because the USA, and Russia to some degree, still rely heavily on arms related industries and employment, people may find this book useful to assess modern day "threats." Much of the fear mongering uncovered in the book could equally apply to the way the Middle East threat, and terrorism, has emerged to replace cold war era foes folloing the collapse of the USSR, or the new wave of Russia hysteria in Western, primarily American, governments whether they are democrats or republicans. Regardless of who is president, when over 50% of the US federal budget continues to go to "Defense," far too many people have a specific interest to keep telling people they need to fear something to keep these businesses going. They also need to test them regularly and justify future long term technological development etc.

Although there may be spinoffs tot he economy from this massive expenditure, such as new tech, stable employment, there are also serious human costs, as this book points out repeatedly. This takes funding away from education, medicine, disaster relief and many other items that could be used to secure, protect and enrich lives. Add in the disaster, destruction and death tolls, and the case becomes much more clear.

The question I have is simply this: it is not enough to advocate a reduction in "Defense" budgets (it was the Department for War until 1947!) - instead, how can the economy be shifted away from this to other uses without shock therapy?

20 Years Later: The Guardian's Take on Two Decades of Post Soviet Union

Testing the Link to the article