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Unlike Western colonialism, Russia/USSR developed the new territories. Look at Central Asia, for example. There were no cities, almost no population, no houses
by anticodon 5y ago
Unlike Western colonialism, Russia/USSR developed the new territories. Look at Central Asia, for example. There were no cities, almost no population, no houses for the most part (other than some primitive clay huts), no education, no medical care, sometimes not even written language. Definitely no any kind of industry.
USSR invested billions to build infrastructure, schools, factories, power plants, hospitals, irrigation systems, etc. in the middle of deserts.
These countries still continue to use Soviet infrastructure. They lack resources (including human resources) to build their own. Not a single big project, even something like a power grid or a new hospital was ever built there since USSR collapse.
Also, under USSR every nation had equal rights, even more, USSR invested into building national schools, publishing books in native languages, promoting national culture (musicians, poets, writers). There was not a single Western country that ever did that in the colonies. E.g. when India was liberated, about 90% of the population didn't know how to write. Some american visiting India in the beginning of the XX century, said that the whole colonial budget for education in India is smaller than budget of one school in New York (I don't want to look for original quote, it should be easy to find).
Now, quite on the opposite, Baltic states and Ukraine made it explicitly forbidden to speak Russian, for example. I don't know where else in the world it's explicitly forbidden by law to speak some language. I think that wasn't even true in Nazi Germany, so they surpassed even their masters (Baltic states and Ukraine supported Hitler and still celebrate soldiers that joined German nazi army)
- pram 5y agoThis is a nonsensical comparison. Those were constituent republics in a federal system. The US built infrastructure in its “new territories” too. It’s practically unremarkable. A better comparison would be how the USSR handled its foreign occupations. Like Afghanistan for example, where they managed to kill 10% of the population to prop up a fraternal socialist government.
- anticodon 5y agoHow many civilians in Afghanistan and Vietnam were killed by US troops? About 10% of Vietnam population at the time, as far as I remember. Also, USSR didn't try to occupy Afghanistan. It was a pointless war, but reasons for it are not as simple as "prop up a fraternal socialist government" and it wasn't fought to occupy Afghanistan. Also, where the number "10% of the population" originate from? It definitely seems and exaggeration. BTW, unlike US, USSR build roads, tunnels, power plants and hospitals in Afghanistan. Some of them are still used today.
- rascul 5y ago> BTW, unlike US, USSR build roads, tunnels, power plants and hospitals in Afghanistan. Some of them are still used today. The US and allies have done that, with varying results. https://www.usaid.gov/sites/default/files/documents/1871/2019.03.03_Infrastructure_Sector_Fact_Sheet.pdf https://www.usaid.gov/sites/default/files/documents/1871/201... https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reconstruction_in_Afghanistan https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reconstruction_in_Afghanistan https://www.wsp.com/en-US/projects/afghanistan-infrastructure-rehab https://www.wsp.com/en-US/projects/afghanistan-infrastructur... https://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/afghanistan/infras.htm https://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/afghanistan/in...
- rzmnzm 5y agoThese are mostly rehashed Soviet propaganda talking points. The Baltics cannot be compared to Central Asian republics, and Soviet occupation was greatly detrimental to the Baltic nations, not to mention unwanted. Much more economic wealth was taken by the Soviet Union than ever received. The Baltics were more than capable of building hospitals, schools, etc and had fine examples of all of these. Many atrocities were committed in the Baltic nations by the Soviet Union (as indeed many atrocities occurred in all parts of the Soviet Union) Indeed, today the 14th of June is the memorial day for the mass deportations from Latvia to the Soviet Union https://www.mfa.gov.lv/en/policy/society-integration/history/international-conference-deportation-of-14-june-1941-crimes-against-humanity https://www.mfa.gov.lv/en/policy/society-integration/history... The USSR was quite literally an evil empire which rightfully belongs in the trash bin of history
- rzmnzm 5y agoAlso it is not illegal to speak Russian, how ridiculous. Please stop watching whatever garbage TV propaganda you are doing.