Self-identity in post-Soviet immigrants’ narratives

Abstract

The Soviet Union established a specific culture, imposingly uniting representatives of diverse nations around strictly defined values. The closed borders kept the outside world unknown for Soviet citizens. After the collapse of the Soviet Union, the majority of people from post-Soviet Republics faced the difficult necessity of a reassessment of their values. The confusion was even more severe for the people who immigrated to Western countries. The present article discusses self-narratives written by post-Soviet immigrant authors with a focus on cultural differences that they describe in their works. The stability and security of the previous times are contrasted to the dynamics and aspirations of the present reality. The authors’ interpretation of the cultural differences reveals interesting details of post-Soviet identity.