Rulers and Victims: The Russians in the Soviet Union

Geoffrey Hosking's Rulers and Victims: The Russians in the Soviet Union examines the complex position of ethnic Russians within the Soviet system from 1917 to 1991. The book traces how Russians found themselves simultaneously the dominant nationality and subject to the same oppressive forces as other Soviet peoples. Hosking analyzes key periods including the Bolshevik Revolution, Stalin's industrialization campaigns, World War II, and the Cold War era through the lens of Russian national identity and experience. The work draws on archives, personal accounts, and historical records to document how Soviet policies affected Russian culture, religion, and social structures. Hosking explores the Soviet leadership's attempts to create a new kind of Russian who would embody communist ideals while maintaining Russian language and certain cultural elements as binding forces in the USSR. The paradox of Russians as both rulers and ruled emerges through examination of specific policies, demographic shifts, and social transformations. The work presents an essential perspective on how the Soviet experiment reshaped Russian identity and continues to influence Russia's relationship with former Soviet territories and its own past. This analysis provides context for understanding contemporary Russian nationalism and state power.

Readers note Hosking's deep research into how ethnic Russians both dominated Soviet power structures while simultaneously suffering under the regime. Many highlight the book's examination of Russian national identity and how Soviet policies affected it. Likes: - Clear explanation of the Soviet nationality policy - Balance between academic depth and accessibility - Thorough analysis of Russian versus Soviet identity - Strong coverage of World War II's impact Dislikes: - Some sections become repetitive - Focus mainly on elites rather than ordinary citizens - Limited coverage of non-Russian ethnic groups - Dense academic writing style in parts Ratings: Goodreads: 3.9/5 (32 ratings) Amazon: 4.2/5 (11 ratings) Several academic reviewers on H-Net praised the book's analysis of Soviet nationalities policy but questioned whether Russians can be considered "victims" given their privileged position. Multiple Amazon reviewers noted it works better for readers already familiar with Soviet history rather than newcomers to the subject.

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🔹 Geoffrey Hosking was one of the first Western scholars allowed access to Soviet archives after their opening in the 1990s, enabling him to provide uniquely detailed insights into Russian life under Soviet rule. 🔹 The book challenges the common perception that Russians were purely the oppressors in the Soviet Union, showing how they too were victims of the system, losing their churches, traditions, and countless lives to Stalin's purges. 🔹 Despite making up the largest ethnic group in the USSR, Russians paradoxically experienced a weakening of their national identity during Soviet rule as the regime promoted a broader "Soviet" identity above ethnic affiliations. 🔹 The author demonstrates how the Soviet system created a unique phenomenon of "internal colonization," where Russians simultaneously served as both colonial administrators and colonial subjects within their own territory. 🔹 The book reveals that between 1917 and 1959, the Russian Orthodox Church saw its number of functioning churches reduced from 54,000 to fewer than 7,000, representing one of the most dramatic institutional collapses in religious history.