NINA KHRUSHCHEVA

Deprived of national pride in their lifelong beliefs, Russians experienced a bit of my eyes of the Soviet era as the end of empire, and a sense of national identity. In a state of moral, material and physical despair, they yearned to feel better about themselves and their land.

Having for centuries had no sense of self esteem outside the state, we found ourselves wanting our old rulers back, the rulers who provided a sense of order, inspired patriotic fervor and the belief that we were great nation. We yearned for monumental--if repressive--leaders like Ivan the Terrible or Stalin. Yes they killed and imprisoned but how great were our victories and parades. So what if Stalin ruled by fear? That was simply a fear of one’s life. However terrifying, it was not as existentially threatening as the fear of freedom, of individual choice, with no one but oneself to blame if democracy turned into disarray and capitalism into corruption.

Deprived of national pride in their lifelong beliefs, Russians experienced a bit of my eyes of the Soviet era as the end of empire, and a sense of national identity. In a state of moral, material and physical despair, they yearned to feel better about themselves and their land.

Having for centuries had no sense of self esteem outside the state, we found ourselves wanting our old rulers back, the rulers who provided a sense of order, inspired patriotic fervor and the belief that we were great nation. We yearned for monumental--if repressive--leaders like Ivan the Terrible or Stalin. Yes they killed and imprisoned but how great were our victories and parades. So what if Stalin ruled by fear? That was simply a fear of one’s life. However terrifying, it was not as existentially threatening as the fear of freedom, of individual choice, with no one but oneself to blame if democracy turned into disarray and capitalism into corruption.