April 18, 2023

De-Russianization of UK Institutions


De-Russianization of UK Institutions
Entrance to the Pushkin House, London. Pushkin House Rafy, Wikimedia Commons.

Since the start of Putin's war, many in the West have been given cause to rethink their perspective on Russian literature and culture. This debate is reflected, as The Moscow Times reports, in pressure mounting against London's Pushkin House to change its name.

Self-described as a Russian "independent cultural center," Pushkin House has existed since 1954 and is the oldest and most significant institution of its kind in the UK. On the anniversary of the invasion in February 2023, the organization released a statement relaying the perspectives of various writers and academics on its continued operations.

Though the House is praised for, for instance, its role as "a vital space for reflection, interrogation and debate" during the war, University College London professor Dr. Michał Murawski calls for change, beginning with a symbolic "de-Pushkinization." For him, Pushkin's image now merely serves "to justify, decorate, conceal or smokescreen the trans-historical, unceasing Russian reality of war, rape, murder, and genocide."

Many in the UK believe that studying Russian culture is inappropriate at this time. The London-based Russian and Eastern European culture magazine Calvert Journal ceased operations as the invasion began in February 2022, stating that "we cannot in good conscience continue our work ... like business as usual."

Others, however, fear that such efforts are ultimately reductive. University of Glasgow lecturer Ammon Cheskin recently argued to The Moscow Times that there is fear that the future of Russian Studies will be "students who see Russia as the enemy and want to study the enemy."

Ultimately, reconciling Russian studies with the Russian government's weaponization of culture may only be possible in retrospect. As The Moscow Times writes, "The fate of Russian studies as a discipline hinges on the outcome of the war."

You Might Also Like

Moscow on the Thames
  • September 01, 2010

Moscow on the Thames

History would have been much different if Queen Elizabeth had accepted a proposal from Ivan IV in the sixteenth century. Nonetheless, London today bears the stamp of centuries of Russo-British interaction.
Goodbye, Pushkin!
  • April 11, 2023

Goodbye, Pushkin!

The Ukrainian city of Poltava will remove statues of Pushkin and two Soviet generals following residents' protests.
Like this post? Get a weekly email digest + member-only deals

Some of our Books

Jews in Service to the Tsar
October 09, 2011

Jews in Service to the Tsar

Benjamin Disraeli advised, “Read no history: nothing but biography, for that is life without theory.” With Jews in Service to the Tsar, Lev Berdnikov offers us 28 biographies spanning five centuries of Russian Jewish history, and each portrait opens a new window onto the history of Eastern Europe’s Jews, illuminating dark corners and challenging widely-held conceptions about the role of Jews in Russian history.

Faith & Humor
December 01, 2011

Faith & Humor

A book that dares to explore the humanity of priests and pilgrims, saints and sinners, Faith & Humor has been both a runaway bestseller in Russia and the focus of heated controversy – as often happens when a thoughtful writer takes on sacred cows. The stories, aphorisms, anecdotes, dialogues and adventures in this volume comprise an encyclopedia of modern Russian Orthodoxy, and thereby of Russian life.

Russian Rules
November 16, 2011

Russian Rules

From the shores of the White Sea to Moscow and the Northern Caucasus, Russian Rules is a high-speed thriller based on actual events, terrifying possibilities, and some really stupid decisions.

Bears in the Caviar
May 01, 2015

Bears in the Caviar

Bears in the Caviar is a hilarious and insightful memoir by a diplomat who was “present at the creation” of US-Soviet relations. Charles Thayer headed off to Russia in 1933, calculating that if he could just learn Russian and be on the spot when the US and USSR established relations, he could make himself indispensable and start a career in the foreign service. Remarkably, he pulled it of.

Woe From Wit (bilingual)
June 20, 2017

Woe From Wit (bilingual)

One of the most famous works of Russian literature, the four-act comedy in verse Woe from Wit skewers staid, nineteenth century Russian society, and it positively teems with “winged phrases” that are essential colloquialisms for students of Russian and Russian culture.

Survival Russian
February 01, 2009

Survival Russian

Survival Russian is an intensely practical guide to conversational, colloquial and culture-rich Russian. It uses humor, current events and thematically-driven essays to deepen readers’ understanding of Russian language and culture. This enlarged Second Edition of Survival Russian includes over 90 essays and illuminates over 2000 invaluable Russian phrases and words.

The Moscow Eccentric
December 01, 2016

The Moscow Eccentric

Advance reviewers are calling this new translation "a coup" and "a remarkable achievement." This rediscovered gem of a novel by one of Russia's finest writers explores some of the thorniest issues of the early twentieth century.

A Taste of Russia
November 01, 2012

A Taste of Russia

The definitive modern cookbook on Russian cuisine has been totally updated and redesigned in a 30th Anniversary Edition. Layering superbly researched recipes with informative essays on the dishes' rich historical and cultural context, A Taste of Russia includes over 200 recipes on everything from borshch to blini, from Salmon Coulibiac to Beef Stew with Rum, from Marinated Mushrooms to Walnut-honey Filled Pies. A Taste of Russia shows off the best that Russian cooking has to offer. Full of great quotes from Russian literature about Russian food and designed in a convenient wide format that stays open during use.

The Pet Hawk of the House of Abbas
October 01, 2013

The Pet Hawk of the House of Abbas

This exciting new trilogy by a Russian author – who has been compared to Orhan Pamuk and Umberto Eco – vividly recreates a lost world, yet its passions and characters are entirely relevant to the present day. Full of mystery, memorable characters, and non-stop adventure, The Pet Hawk of the House of Abbas is a must read for lovers of historical fiction and international thrillers.

 

About Us

Russian Life is the 31-year-old publication of an award-winning publishing house that also creates books, and other products for Russophiles the world over.

Latest Posts

Our Contacts

Russian Life
73 Main Street, Suite 402
Montpelier VT 05602

802-223-4955