Cold War Africa, Soviet Diplomatic and Military Personnel, 1960-1967

The history of African identity in Russia and the Soviet Union remains largely unexplored. The few existing studies focus on diplomatic relations between the USSR and African countries, often emphasizing the Soviet project of bringing Marxist-Leninist ideology to Africa. This seminar will take a different approach, exploring the perception of African identity in the Soviet Union, namely, how Soviet citizens viewed this identity. Questions to be examined include: Was there any specific “Soviet perspective” on Africa and African identity? How did cultural stereotypes, racism, and paternalism influence Soviet perceptions?