Secondhand Time

1. The Soviet Dream's End: A Civilization Lost in Transition

We’re paying our respects to the Soviet era. Cutting ties with our old life. I’m trying to honestly hear out all the participants of the socialist drama…

Civilization's demise. The book chronicles the collapse of the Soviet civilization, a world built on the ideals of communism, collectivism, and a shared destiny. This civilization, with its unique values, lexicon, and relationship with death, vanished, leaving its people adrift in a new, unfamiliar landscape.

Traces of the past. Alexievich seeks to capture the traces of this vanished world, its familiar faces, and the myriad details of everyday life. She aims to understand how socialism existed in a person's soul, focusing on the individual as the miniature expanse where everything truly happens.

Honest reckoning. The author emphasizes the importance of honestly hearing out all participants in the socialist drama, both victims and perpetrators, to understand the full scope of this historical transformation. This includes acknowledging the achievements and sacrifices made in the name of the Soviet idea, even as its failures and horrors are exposed.

2. Freedom's Illusions: From Liberation to Disillusionment

Freedom had materialized out of thin air: Everyone was intoxicated by it, but no one had really been prepared.

Unprepared for freedom. The sudden arrival of freedom after decades of Soviet rule left many people unprepared and disoriented. They were intoxicated by the possibilities but lacked the knowledge, skills, and values to navigate the new landscape.

Betrayal of expectations. The promise of a better life, equality, and justice was replaced by the harsh realities of capitalism: inequality, poverty, and the dominance of money. This led to widespread disillusionment and a sense of betrayal among those who had embraced perestroika.

Yearning for the past. Many people began to yearn for the perceived stability and security of the Soviet era, even with its limitations and repressions. This nostalgia reflects a deep-seated longing for a sense of belonging, purpose, and shared values that were lost in the transition.

3. The Homo Sovieticus: A New Breed Adrift in a New World

Communism had an insane plan: to remake the “old breed of man,” ancient Adam. And it really worked…Perhaps it was communism’s only achievement.

The Soviet man. The book explores the emergence of a new type of person, Homo sovieticus, shaped by over seventy years of Marxist-Leninist ideology. This individual, whether seen as tragic or a sovok, possesses a unique lexicon, conceptions of good and evil, and a special relationship with death.

Collective memory. Homo sovieticus shares a communist collective memory, a shared history of gulags, war, collectivization, and mass deportations. This collective memory binds them together, even as they now live in separate countries and speak different languages.

Loss of identity. The collapse of the Soviet Union left Homo sovieticus without a clear identity or purpose. They struggled to adapt to the new values of individualism, consumerism, and competition, feeling like strangers in their own land.

4. Nostalgia's Grip: The Seduction of a Reimagined Past

There’s a new demand for everything Soviet. For the cult of Stalin.

Selective memory. Nostalgia for the Soviet era often involves a selective memory, focusing on the positive aspects while downplaying or ignoring the negative ones. This can lead to a romanticized and distorted view of the past.

Soviet revival. The resurgence of Soviet symbols, themes, and cultural products reflects a longing for a sense of identity, belonging, and shared values that were lost in the transition to capitalism. This includes:

• "Soviet-style cafés" with Soviet names and dishes
• "Soviet" candy and salami
• Soviet-themed TV shows and websites

The cult of Stalin. The renewed interest in Stalin, particularly among younger generations, is a disturbing trend. It reflects a desire for strong leadership, order, and stability, even at the cost of freedom and human rights.

5. The Scars of History: Victims, Executioners, and the Unresolved Legacy

Victim and executioner are equally ignoble; the lesson of the camps is brotherhood in abjection.

Shared guilt. The book delves into the complex relationship between victims and executioners in Soviet history, highlighting the shared guilt and moral compromises that permeated society. Everyone was either a victim, an accomplice, or both.

Moral compromises. The need to survive in a totalitarian system often forced individuals to make difficult choices, blurring the lines between right and wrong. This led to a culture of fear, suspicion, and betrayal, where even family members turned against each other.

Unresolved trauma. The failure to fully confront and reconcile with the horrors of the Soviet past has left deep scars on Russian society. This unresolved trauma continues to shape the present, fueling political divisions and hindering the development of a shared national identity.

6. The Price of Progress: Materialism vs. Ideals in a Changing Russia

Freedom turned out to mean the rehabilitation of bourgeois existence, which has traditionally been suppressed in Russia.

The allure of materialism. The collapse of communism unleashed a wave of consumerism and materialism, as people eagerly embraced the goods and freedoms that had been denied to them for so long. This led to a shift in values, with money and success becoming the primary measures of worth.

Spiritual emptiness. The pursuit of material wealth often came at the expense of spiritual and intellectual pursuits. Libraries and theaters stood empty, while markets and stores thrived. This created a sense of emptiness and a loss of meaning in life.

The intelligentsia's plight. The Russian intelligentsia, once revered as the conscience of the nation, found themselves marginalized and impoverished in the new capitalist order. Their traditional values of intellectualism, social justice, and moral integrity were often seen as irrelevant or even detrimental to success.

7. The Echoes of War: Trauma, Memory, and the Search for Meaning

At heart, we’re built for war. We were always either fighting or preparing to fight. We’ve never known anything else—hence our wartime psychology.

Wartime psychology. The book explores the enduring impact of war on the Russian psyche, highlighting the nation's long history of conflict and its tendency to view life through a militarized lens. This wartime psychology has shaped the country's values, attitudes, and behaviors.

The Great Patriotic War. The memory of World War II, known as the Great Patriotic War in Russia, remains a powerful force in shaping national identity and values. The sacrifices and heroism of the Soviet people during the war are often invoked to justify present-day policies and actions.

The Chechen wars. The Chechen wars of the 1990s and 2000s further traumatized Russian society, exposing the brutality and senselessness of conflict. These wars also revealed the deep-seated ethnic tensions and unresolved grievances that continue to plague the country.

8. The Unfolding Future: Navigating a World Without Certainty

And the future seems to have stopped standing in its proper place.

Uncertainty and anxiety. The book concludes with a sense of uncertainty and anxiety about the future of Russia. The old certainties of the Soviet era have vanished, but no clear vision has emerged to take their place.

The search for a new path. Russia is still searching for its place in the world, grappling with questions of identity, values, and purpose. The country's relationship with the West, its role in the global economy, and its internal political dynamics remain unresolved.

The artist's role. The author emphasizes the importance of art and literature in helping people make sense of their lives and navigate the complexities of the modern world. By telling stories, exploring emotions, and challenging conventional wisdom, artists can help to illuminate the path forward.

Last updated: April 13, 2025