Burden of Dreams: History and Identity in Post-Soviet Ukraine (Post-Communist Cultural Studies)
by Catherine Wanner
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Description
Ukraine is the largest new state to appear on the map of Europe this century. With a population of more than 50 million people and a territory larger than France, the new Ukrainian state faces many challenges, not least of which is to forge a national identity after years of Soviet rule. Burden of Dreams examines daily life in Soviet and post-Soviet Ukraine, showing why Ukrainian nationalism and its program of "Ukrainianization" have appealed to the largest Russian diaspora and to millions show more of Russified Ukrainians. Focusing on schools, festivals, commemorative ceremonies, and monuments, Catherine Wanner shows how Soviet-created narratives have been recast to reflect a post-Soviet Ukrainocentric perspective. In the process, we see how new histories are understood and acted upon. This reveals regional cleavages and the resilience of cultural differences produced by the Soviet regime. For some people, the system they criticized yesterday is the one they long for today. The struggle to remember or to forget is particularly intense in post-Soviet societies. Burden of Dreams is especially valuable for showing us the monumental task facing a Ukrainian state that is seeking to craft cultural solidarity after years of Soviet rule. show lessTags
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6 Works 35 Members
Catherine Wanner is an Associate Professor of History, Anthropology, and Religious Studies at the Pennsylvania State University. She co-edited with Mark D. Steinberg Religion, Morality, and Community in Post-Soviet Societies for the Woodrow Wilson Center Press in 2008.
Classifications
- Genres
- History, Nonfiction, Anthropology
- DDC/MDS
- 947.7 — History & geography History of Europe Eastern European Counties and Russia Ukraine
- LCC
- DK508.846 .W36 — History of Europe, Asia, Africa and Oceania Russia. Soviet Union. Former Soviet Republics – Poland History of Russia. Soviet Union. Former Soviet Republics Local history and description Ukraine Kiev
- BISAC
Statistics
- Members
- 8
- Popularity
- 2,514,658
- Rating
- (4.00)
- Languages
- English
- Media
- Paper
- ISBNs
- 3
