Was the Soviet Union a Slavic Nation or a Russian Empire?

Examining the nature of the Soviet Union as a state and its composition requires a closer look at its structure and demographics. The Soviet Union was not a single nationality but a MULTI-NATIONAL entity, composed of various ethnic groups. Let's delve into this to understand its true nature.

The USSR Beyond Russia

The Soviet Union was not a country as one would interpret the term. NATO, for instance, is a military alliance, not a country. Similarly, the Soviet Union was a confederation of 15 republics, each with its own distinct history and culture. Russia, while significant, was just one among these republics. The central government of the Soviet Union was based in Moscow, but the decisions often transcended the ethnic Russian culture that is commonly associated with the region.

MULTI-NATIONAL or NOT "RUSSIAN" Empire?

Defining the Soviet Union as a RUSSIAN EMPIRE overlooks the complexity of its makeup. The Russians, or the ethnic Russian majority, constituted only about 51% of the total population. Here’s why this percentage is misleading:

Misleading Official Data

The official census data often overstated the ethnic Russian percentage due to a number of factors:

Immigrants, students, and workers entering large cities like Moscow were granted the status of "Russians", despite their background ethnicity being recorded in KGB files. These individuals, and their children, closely aligned with Russian culture and language, effectively becoming de facto Russified.

This process of Russification is characteristic across many countries around the world. For example, immigrants from Latin American countries who move to the United States quickly assimilate, learn English, and adopt American culture. This is not inherently bad; it is a process of cultural integration.

Forced Russification

However, the Soviet Union used a more coercive form of Russification known as Forced Russification, particularly in cases such as:

The Chechen Case

A prime example of forced Russification is the treatment of the Chechen people. Chechens, a fiercely Muslim and traditional nation, faced severe restrictions and assimilation efforts. During World War II, Stalin ordered the deportation of 70-80% of the ethnic Chechens into Siberia. The deportees were not allowed to return until the 1950s, while Russian colonizers settled in their place.

When Chechen deportees were allowed to return, their language and cultural traditions were prohibited. This scenario echoed the treatment of other Slavic peoples, such as Poles and Czechs, by Nazi Germany and Imperial Germany, respectively. Chechens were compelled to adopt Russian culture, language, and, in some cases, even forget their own traditions if they wanted to achieve any career success.

Similar policies were applied to Belarusians, Ukrainians, Poles, Jews, and countless other ethnic groups, illustrating a broader trend of forced Russification initiated by the Soviet Union.

Conclusion: Complexity and Nuance

The Soviet Union was a complex, multi-national state, far from being a mere extension of Russian dominance. While ethnic Russians were significant, they were not the majority, and the nature of their influence was shaped by various policies, including Russification.

Understanding the true nature of the Soviet Union requires a nuanced view of its demographics, policies, and the interactions between different ethnic groups. Today, Russia's nationalistic mindset often interprets the achievements of the USSR as solely due to Russian contributions, but this overlooks the reality of a diverse and complex state.