By Chase Whitehouse
DOI: 10.57912/25499890
When examining the end of European colonialism, there is a notable absence from the public and scholarly understanding of the key players therein. The imperial history of Russia is one of a continuous campaign of conquest against its neighbors. However, when the colonial powers of Britain and France are rightly criticized for their immoral taking of land and resources, Russia is not subject to such scrutiny. Contemporary scholars assert this is a deeply intentional campaign undertaken by the Russian elite benefiting from these crimes. The discourse pushed by the aristocracy permeates the public and academic realm, and, thus, counters anti-colonial efforts throughout not only the land Russia has conquered but also in the lands it continues to flex its ambitions upon.
Casey Michel of The Atlantic argues in his 2022 piece that the United States must pursue an international effort to decolonize Russia. Further, Michel argues that failing to see Russia as a stubborn colonial power plays into its ambitions, as Russia is still operating as a hostile force to democracy and serves as a vibrantly active colonial power.
Unlike other European nations with a long history of colonialism, Russia has not made a point to reconcile its colonial past. This makes sense, as that would undermine its persistent efforts to colonize much of Africa, South America, South Asia, and the Middle East by bolstering friendly autocratic regimes willing to sell out their people for Russian favor. Yet, if Russia itself is guilty of such extensive colonial manipulation, how can the Russian elite use the guise of anti-colonialism, more particularly anti-American colonialism, as one of their key discursive weapons against the West? Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov uses “memory diplomacy” to market false notions of Russian power politics to countries of interest. His embassy in South Africa claimed that
“Russia was among the few world powers that neither had colonies in Africa or elsewhere nor participated in [the] slave trade throughout its history. Russia helped, in every possible way, the peoples of the African continent to attain their freedom and sovereignty.”
Dr. Jade McGlynn of Foreign Policy Magazine quotes Minister Lavrov in her article, “Why Russia Markets Itself as an Anti-Colonial Power to Africans.” Dr. McGlynn rightly reiterates that, in the context of African exploitation, Russia’s history does not include a sweeping colonial regime across the seas, like its shameful Western European counterparts; rather, Russia was blessed with a geographic advantage over its neighbors to the west and east allowing it to conquer its neighboring land rather than Africa. The Russian foreign policy elite is well aware of the fact that Russia was very much involved in the scramble for Africa; the catastrophe of Russian colonies in Africa was luckily avoided because of Russia’s already sprawling Eurasian empire and continuing ambitions to the east. This remains true despite the flagrant disinformation perpetrated by Russia’s propaganda machine, brilliantly disproven by the Wilson Center’s Emily Couch. In her piece, Couch points to Russia’s continued efforts to be an active player in what has become known as “the new scramble for Africa.” Here, Couch unearths Russia’s continued issues of anti-black racism within its borders along with its attempts to exploit the abundant resources of the African nations it wishes to politically and economically subjugate. In addition to Russia’s resource exploitation in Central Africa, its paramilitary group, PMC “Wagner,” continues to aid armed groups alleged to have committed war crimes and have been accused of conducting illegal mining operations. At the same time, the Russian government is funding efforts to reform the mining industry in its favor throughout the region. Such a flagrant act of intervention comes without public or international backlash as this incursion is accompanied by blatantly false Russian discourse that these reforms are an attempt to liberate rather than colonize parts of the Global South.
Furthermore, the Ukrainian government has already engaged in counteractive memory diplomacy against Russia to combat popular historical narratives. President Volodymyr Zelensky reminds the caucuses in a video message to the people of the region that Russia is and always has been an enemy to their self-governance. The U.S., if it is the plan to see the Russian Empire come to a much-deserved conclusion, should embrace and expand Ukraine’s narrative. By the great efforts of the power that be in Moscow, the collective consciousness has forgotten the genocide of the Circassians and the conquest of the Daurs, Bashkirs, and Koryaks. These narratives excuse the Russian Government’s long history of colonialism and equip them with the qualification to conquer and suppress what people they haven’t already. Don’t be mistaken, Russia is a colonial power. It is as guilty as Britain, France, and, yes, the United States of the crimes of colonialism. Russia continues this history through an organized campaign of disinformation while flexing its colonial intentions through violence and repression.
In what is now known as the “new scramble for Africa,” the United States and its allies play a key role. It is a moral imperative that the U.S. avoids falling into the morally bankrupt trappings of colonialism. Rather, the U.S. ought to stand as a true ally of self-governance, stability, and democracy in Africa as well as other regions in which Russia, and China, are vying for colonial domination. Rather than allowing American companies to exploit the resources of emerging states, the U.S should counter Russian influence, but do so in a fashion in which it lives up to its lofty values. It should be our policy priority to build up civil institutions among those struggling with them so their democracies can survive the onslaught of Russian and Chinese tampering. In doing so, the U.S. not only plays the great power game but also defends what the United States ought to hold dear. The world has not escaped colonialist conquest; it is in progress. The collective understanding has let a prolific colonial actor escape judgment and accountability. Now we must deal with the consequences. Russia’s colonial actions must be matched with a proportional reaction. As they back authoritarians, the world must react by supporting democratic institutions and movements. While Russia pumps millions into illegal and unjustified military intervention, the world must equip local populations with the means to defend themselves.
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