(Re)Thinking the (Post-)Colonial in the Ex-Soviet Regions

Argument

The overall aim of this workshop is to (re)assess the relevance of these concepts to the study of these regions, and to explore how this theoretical framework might be adapted. The aim is to initiate a critical reflection on the use of postcolonial approaches to the former Russian and Soviet imperial space by discussing their merits and limitations, without ruling out the possibility of introducing alternative or hybrid concepts.
Indeed, Russia’s large-scale invasion of Ukraine has reignited the debate on the colonial nature of Russian expansionism and on Russia’s relations with the independent former Soviet states. Whilst for overseas colonial empires, the (post)colonial lens has long been recognised as a key tool for critique and analysis, there is no consensus on its application to territorial empires such as the Russian Empire and the Soviet Union. This lens – understood as taking into account the logic of imperial domination, the relations of economic exploitation between a metropolis and its colonies, and the resulting discourses and imaginaries – is applied in varying degrees depending on the territory in question. Whilst it is more widely employed to analyse the conquests and modes of administration of the Central Asian regions during the imperial era, its application remains more controversial for other territories (Siberia, the Caucasus, the Baltic states, and even more so in Eastern Europe). Furthermore, the use of identical concepts to define the imperial practices and colonial logics of the Tsarist Empire, the Soviet Union, and the Russian Federation also poses a problem: they may tend to blur the breaks proposed by the socialist project of equality between nations and individuals, or even to homogenise distinct administrative practices and different forms of transitions in the post-socialist era.
Therefore, we would like to examine to what extent, and for which period(s), the engagement with a (post)colonial lens is relevant to the study of regions ranging from Central Asia to Eastern Europe? Conversely, what contributions might we expect from research on the former Soviet space to postcolonial studies? For example, do they enable us to challenge capitalism's centrality in colonial phenomena by drawing on the Soviet experience? Or to rethink the construction of otherness and the relationships between colonisers and the colonised? Finally, if the (post)colonial lens proves relevant, what changes to research practices would need to be considered to incorporate it?

Format

Aimed at PhD students, early-career and established researchers working on the former Russian and Soviet imperial space, this workshop offers a forum for discussion around works currently in progress, whilst fostering a transdisciplinary reflection on how the (post)colonial lens can be applied to these regions, and its potential limitations. We welcome papers offering epistemological reflections on the use of theoretical frameworks and concepts of (post)colonialism; papers applying these or related concepts to the analysis of archives or contemporary fieldwork materials; and papers that explore methodological considerations surrounding the concepts of (post)colonialism.
Speakers will give a brief presentation (5 minutes) on their current writing project (an article or an excerpt from a thesis chapter). The paper will have been read in advance by the other workshop participants, so that it can be discussed collectively during the day. The aim is therefore to support participants in their writing, particularly when the use of postcolonial approaches – or the rejection thereof – raises questions.

Submission guidelines

Proposals (maximum 1,000 words), to be submitted by August 31 to View e-mail, should present the context, research question, theoretical framework, and the main findings or hypotheses of the work proposed for discussion, while specifying how it engages with our reflections on the use of postcolonial approaches.
Subsequently, we will ask selected authors to submit their full papers, not exceeding 7,000 words, by November 12, 2026. The papers will be shared on a secure platform accessible to workshop participants. One week before the workshop, participants will be invited to provide brief comments on the other papers. This format, combined with a short presentation, is intended to ensure constructive feedback on the submitted papers and to facilitate an in-depth discussion of their content during the workshop.
Finally, we will ask authors to include their biographical details (surname, first name, status, affiliated institution, email address) and to indicate their preferred working language (English or French). The working language of the workshop will depend on the submissions received.

Organisation committee

• Richelli Afonso, PhD candidate in Geography at CERCEC (EHESS)
• Dana Kostenetsky, PhD candidate in Sociology at CERCEC (EHESS)
• Guillaume Minea-Pic, PhD in History, postdoctoral researcher at the Helsinki Collegium of Advanced Studies, associate researcher at CERCEC (EHESS)
• Jeanne Paul-Roth, PhD candidate in History and Geography at CREE (Inalco)
• Georges Sollogoub, PhD candidate in History at CERCEC (EHESS)