To justify its invasion of Ukraine, Russia has repeatedly accused the country of being a neo-Nazi state. But its demonization efforts extend beyond Ukraine and target Ukrainian diasporas around the world, including here in Canada.
Why?
Today in The Conversation Canada, Vic Satzewich of McMaster University and Ivan Kozachenko of Jagiellonian University in Poland delve into the history of Ukrainian independence to explain why Russia targets, demonizes and fears Ukrainian diasporas.
They write:
"In the post-Second World War era, the Ukrainian diaspora — along with others from eastern Europe — were historically anti-Communist and anti-Soviet, championing national independence. They also helped preserve and generate many elements of national identity and narratives."
These diasporas were a constant irritant to the Soviet Union, and today's current attacks by Russia draw on an old Soviet strategy of portraying them as neo-Nazis.
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