Nationalism in the Soviet Union

Nationalism in the Soviet Union involved strong loyalty and pride toward one’s own ethnic or regional group within the broader Communist state. While the Soviet government promoted a unified Soviet identity, underlying ethnic identities and desires for cultural or political independence persisted among diverse groups. This sometimes led to tensions and movements advocating for greater autonomy or independence, especially as centralized control weakened in later years. Essentially, Soviet nationalism was a complex mix of allegiance to local identities amidst an overarching Soviet framework, often clashing with the state’s goal of unifying all nations under a single Soviet identity.