The Russian Communist Party and the Sovietization of Ukraine

Subject: Russia–Ukraine Russification Soviet Ukraine History Communist Party Communism Culture Identity Politics Bolshevik Revolution Historiography

Description: At the Institute's first seminar of the 1977-78 academic year on October 5, 1977, Dr. J Borys, professor in the Department of Political Science, University of Calgary, spoke about "The Russian Communist Party and the Sovietization of Ukraine." / In his presentation. Dr. Borys dealt with the manner in which the Soviet Russian sphere of influence had expanded into Ukraine, as a case study of the application of the Marxian-Leninist theory of the self-determination of nations in one of the most important regions of eastern Europe. After seizing power in Russia proper in 1917, the Russian Bolsheviks, contrary to their own theoretical premises and claims, began to reincorporate non-Russian territories into the new Soviet Russian empire. The introduction of control by Moscow in Ukraine, which by that time had established its own government, was the result of military conquest. Dr. Borys argued, and not, as Soviet historiography claims, of support from the Ukrainian proletariat. If it had not been for military assistance from outside, the local Bolsheviks would not have succeeded in establishing their control in Ukraine. / Dr. Borys has received a grant from the Institute to revise his book on the above topic, which was originally published in Stockholm, Sweden, in 1960.

From CIUS Newsletter Vol 2 Issue 1 (Fall 1977)

Author: CIUS

Publisher: CIUS

Date: October 5, 1977

Contributor: Jurij Borys

Language: English, Ukrainian

Original Format: Magnetic tape, audio cassette

Duration: 1:04:19