New Discourses

Korenizatsiya: Stalin's Soviet DEI Program

Dec 26, 2024
Explore the surprising origins of modern Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion initiatives, tracing them back to Stalin's Soviet policies. Discover how the Korenizatsiya program aimed to promote ethnic identity while enforcing a socialist agenda, often leading to increased strife. Dive into the historical impact of these strategies on both the Soviet Union and contemporary society in the U.S. and China. Uncover the complexities of identity politics and reflect on the lasting implications of these ideologies.
Ask episode
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
INSIGHT

Soviet Origin of DEI

  • DEI originates from the Soviet Union, developed by Lenin and Stalin.
  • It aimed to achieve "actual equality" (equity) and was later abandoned due to increased ethnic strife.
INSIGHT

Korenizatsiya and its Components

  • The Soviet DEI program, korenizatsiya, translates to "rootsification."
  • It involved raznobrazsiya (diversity) and fakticheskoia ravenstvo (actual equality/equity).
INSIGHT

DEI's Divisive Nature

  • 'Great Russian chauvinism' equates to concepts like 'white supremacy culture' or 'heteronormativity'.
  • DEI is a Soviet program implemented in the West, causing similar divisive outcomes.
Get the Snipd Podcast app to discover more snips from this episode
Get the app