Last week President Dmitry Medvedev formed a government commission on analyzing and suppressing falsifications of history to the detriment of Russia. Some have rushed to portray this move as an “Orwellian Truth Commission” dedicated to official propaganda of the historical facts that fit the government’s interpretation of history. Indeed, one may be tempted to form such a conclusion simply by looking at the commission’s appointees. What is Medvedev likely to accomplish by forming this commission? Is this the right way to approach this issue, or are there more subtle ways to deal with the problem? -- Dr. Vladimir Frolov
One should wait, of course, for the commission to undertake some specific actions before criticizing it, but knowing how bureaucracy works, one could safely assume with high probability that whoever came up with the idea to create a “Commission on Analyzing and Suppressing Falsifications of History Detrimental to Russia” did not do a good service to his country or to president Medvedev, for that matter. Leaving aside its dubious name, this commission will do more in creating controversy than in helping Russia to withstand the information warfare conducted by its foes. Instead of taking a high road and leaving the word battles to historians and experts, the Kremlin set itself on a par with those ill-wishers who try to use history for political purposes at the pundit or state level.
One does not have to create another bureaucratic body to prove several basic historical facts, the interpretation of which is pretty straightforward and I assume is shared by the overwhelming majority of unbiased people, except those, of course, who want to rewrite history for different reasons.
Victory over the Nazis in World War II was achieved by the joint efforts of the Allies, but it was the Soviet Army that contributed the lion’s share to this victory, and it was the Soviet civil population that suffered the most in absolute numbers. The same population also suffered from its own communist rulers because of the Red Terror, forced collectivization, Gulag slave labor, and political repressions on a monstrous scale.
During World War II there were Nazi collaborators, both on the state and individual level. Japan, Italy, and later Slovakia, Romania, Hungary, Bulgaria, and Croatia joined the Axis lead by Germany. There were also regular military battalions and divisions in the Baltic States, Ukraine, and Russia itself who fought alongside German troops against Soviet and Allied forces. Some of them did so voluntarily and others were forced into it, but any glorification of such collaboration as we are now witnessing in Latvia, Estonia or Ukraine should be strongly condemned. Unfortunately, we do not hear any loud condemnations from the West, which proves over and over again that double standards in our time continue to be a sad reality.
Although the Soviet Union played a major role in liberating the world from the Nazis, it did occupy the countries of Eastern Europe, the Baltics, and Western Ukraine, and imposed totalitarian regimes on them. All revolts against such regimes were brutally suppressed.
It was the Russian Federation that liberated the world, including itself, from Soviet-style communism, but unfortunately the Kremlin has so far failed to condemn the crimes of the communist regime against its own people and all of the so-called captive nations clearly and unequivocally. Russia acted somewhat unwisely, but generously and nobly, when it acknowledged the Soviet Union’s entire financial debts. While at it, Russia should have clearly stated that it is not responsible for Soviet crimes, itself being simply another victim of communism.
In terms of facts and figures, Russia was the country worst hit by the communist terror. Some statements to this effect have been made by post-Soviet leaders, but they have not been nearly coherent and convincing enough. Yet that would have radically improved Russia’s image in the world, would help to portray it as a country that has chosen freedom and democracy, and helped improve its relations with its neighbors - and Europe and America too, for that matter. Moreover, it would also help the Russians themselves to overcome their nostalgia for lost empire.
A strong statement directly from the Kremlin along these lines would benefit Russia much more than any artificial commission, which will most likely be an inefficient bureaucratic instrument anyway.
Edward Lozansky is president of American University in Moscow.
Comments
I am not convinced that Russia has completely chosen democracy, but I *am* convinced that it should not. Historical evidence suggests that Russia functions best under a "benevolent dictatorship," and I for one would like to see the restoration of the monarchy -- and I think I am not alone in that opinion.
Posted by: Meg Lark | June 2, 2009 4:53 AM
Well, on the subject of 'truth commissions' and 'Orwellianism'; let's be frank folks. There is probably a real need for this sort of thing. Let's see. Where should we start, well, godless communism did in fact have its good points. (But why is Hussein Oboomer trying to imitate the parts that did not work, i.e. central planning. DUH!) Certainly, we don't like godless part (waiting for godot), but the social safety network of some communist systems proved adequate enough, unlike (social security or) anything so far that the US has to offer. And then we get requests from the likes of Nancy P for our own truth commission into certain acts of the "secret gov" (as if they are not complicit. No we are not her fans-) because the individual members of Congress are- more than anyone- responsible for wars of aggression and blatantly deceiving the public.) So, where to start with "pravda". How about a people's truth commission to determine who in fact is behind the plot to overthrow the constitution of this country? Well, that probably goes back at least to the time of Kennedy and Dulles. Anyway, we can't fault the godless commies too much. China has a poryadochnyi rotation of power and still enviable GDP, while even DPRK had christian easter, thanks to orthodoxy. Where is that truth, ephemeral, anyhow folks? Certainly not in D.C.
Lois White Buffalo
Posted by: Lois DuPey | June 2, 2009 11:56 AM
I don't think a bureaucratic commission is necessary to suppress revisions of history. Honest people will find out the truth for themselves, because, especially in the case of Russia, huge amounts of source material are available to anyone who cares to look. Her history in the 20th century is dominated by the Communist experiment, a disastrous attempt to impose a "bright new future," based on an alien ideology, that was foredoomed to failure. It was probably inevitable that the experiment would be tried somewhere. The Russian people took that hit for the rest of us, losing millions of their best and brightest in the process. It seems to follow a trend. Earlier she served as the big pillow that cushioned Europe against the Mongol hordes. Then, while the British shook in their boots, she defeated Napoleon. Then it was the turn of Hitler. Perhaps many emotions are appropriate when one considers all this. It seems to me that gratitude should be one of them.
Posted by: Helian | June 5, 2009 6:08 PM
The Soviet Union killed and displaced far more people in Estonia than the Nazis did, to say nothing of the two-year alliance between Germany and the Soviet Union that allowed for the joint destruction of Poland and Soviet imperialism directed towards the small nations of the northeastern Baltic. Fighting against the Soviet Union was frequently quite justified--the two countries were totalitarian colossi, actually.
Anyway. To expect post-Communist Estonia to continue to tolerate monuments celebrating their country's occupation by the Soviet Union is somewhat like expecting an alternate-historical post-Nazi Russia to do the same with Nazi and Vlasovite monuments.
As for Russia and the Soviet legacy, all that I can say is that if Russia claims the good parts there's no way it can not claim the bad ones. If it wants to be consistent, that is.
Posted by: Randy McDonald | June 6, 2009 4:31 PM
Russia is not perfect (no government is)...but I give them a lot of credit for some fairly severe introspection and tough action to clean things up. Given the burden Russia assumed during WWII, this is an amazing accomplishment....
I only hope we will prove as worthy when the citizens of my country are tested (probably soon). We have our own demons to confront.
Suspect most Russians only get to observe the foreign gloating jackasses...never the others who are just heaving sighs of relief that their own "time of testing" is not yet upon them.
Posted by: WD | July 25, 2009 8:26 PM