post-Soviet Research Articles

Тенденции распределения доходов между трудом и капиталом в странах с высокой долей труда в ВВП

The work provides quantitative estimates of trends in the distribution of income between labor and capital in countries in which the share of labor in GDP exceeds the average level. The work used UN data for a set of European countries, postSoviet countries, the USA, Canada and Israel. To assess trends, linear econometric models were built depending on the share of the labor force in the GFP for the period 2012–2021. The highest level of labor share was observed in Belgium, Iceland, the Netherlands and Switzerland. The study found that Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Denmark, Spain, the Netherlands, Portugal, Finland and France have seen a decline in labor’s share of GDP. In the Netherlands and Portugal this trend is weak. Germany, Greece, Iceland, Luxembourg, the Czech Republic, Switzerland and Estonia have seen an increase in the labor share of GDP. In Germany and Switzerland this trend is weakly expressed. There are no significant trends in the redistribution of income between labor and capital in countries such as Austria, Armenia, Italy, Canada, Slovenia, the United Kingdom, the United States of America, Croatia and Sweden. Trends in the redistribution of income between labor and capital can be determined by institutional conditions in the country’s economy.

Changing situation of Chinese migrants in the Far East at the late 1920s

In the 1920s a significant number of Chinese migrants lived in the Far Eastern region. They carried out their activities in various branches of local industry and participated in the development of trade. The living conditions of Chinese migrants were influenced by both the transformation of the domestic political and economic situation as well as changes in Soviet-Chinese relations at the international level. The end of the 1920s was characterized by an increase in international tension, including the intensification of confrontation between the Soviet state and China. The conflict on the Chinese Eastern Railway and the subsequent rupture of Soviet-Chinese diplomatic relations had a significant impact on Chinese migrants living in the Far Eastern region. The situation of Chinese migrants has deteriorated significantly, and their displacementt has been observed. Arrests, searches, and detention were used by Soviet law enforcement agencies, and therefore many Chinese migrants decided to return to their homeland. These factors contributed to a reduction in the number of Chinese entrepreneurs and industrial workers in the region. The conflict on the Chinese Eastern Railway also resulted in the appearance of Chinese prisoners of war in the territory of Transbaikalia, with whom appropriate political work was carried out by Soviet state and party bodies.

Foreign Policy of Germany towards Kazakhstan

After the collapse of the Soviet Union, a large number of newly formed states appeared on the geopolitical map of the world, some of which are located in Central Asia. As one of the largest and most influential countries in Europe, Germany sought to establish strong economic, political and cultural ties with these countries. The author pays attention to the stages of development of bilateral relations from the early 90s to the present.Aim. The aim of this study is to identify key aspects of German foreign policy in the region, focusing on relations with Kazakhstan.Tasks. Study the main stages of the development of diplomatic relations between Germany and Kazakhstan. Identify the current state of relations between Germany and Kazakhstan. Explore possible expansion of economic ties and prospects for future cooperation. Show the importance of studying the foreign policy of Germany in relation to Kazakhstan for the Russian Federation.Methods. The research methodology is based on historical analysis, which helped to identify the stages of development of international relations between the two states. The comparative analysis defines the differences in the foreign policy line of Germany towards Kazakhstan at different stages. Regular summit meetings were the objects of event analysis.Results. By examining historical context, economic partnerships, and geopolitical considerations, it is possible to investigate the dynamics shaping German engagement in Central Asia.Conclusions. The genesis of the development of interstate relations was the collapse of the USSR, which served to form sovereign states in the post-Soviet space. The development of bilateral relations is characterized by several stages: some of them were characterized by stagnation, others, by an increase in the attention of Germany to Kazakhstan. The beginning of 2022 served to intensify Germany’s foreign policy in the region. At the present stage, Germany uses a multi-pronged approach that includes diplomatic, economic, cultural and educational components. Germany’s foreign policy in the region is aimed at protecting its national interests. Secondly, the partnership with Kazakhstan is a symbol of Germany’s shared foreign policy goals, emphasizing the importance of cooperation, dialogue and joint development efforts in the heart of Eurasia.

The Concept of an Administrative Act in the CIS countries: Comparative Legal Analysis

The article is devoted to the concept of an administrative act, which is developing in the friendly legal systems of the CIS countries, considered in three aspects: doctrine, legislation and judicial practice. It is stated that the Russian theory of administrative act, on the one hand, is a creative development of the French and German doctrine, and on the other hand, it continues to have a certain influence on the post-Soviet space. On the contrary, in terms of legislation on administrative acts, Russian reality is lagging behind, since the rest of the CIS countries have already adopted westernized laws that, along with the rules on administrative procedures, also establish the material legal basis for the institution of administrative acts. Finally, it is substantiated that in terms of judicial practice on issues of control over the legality of administrative acts, the Russian legal system, despite a certain lag in the regulatory framework, is among the progressive among other CIS countries. The conclusion about the advisability of integrating the achievements of the CIS legal systems for the purposes of their further development is substantiated.

Deprived of Masculinity?

Abstract This article explores how Soviet soldiers were impacted by captivity in German-run POW camps within the USSR during World War II, focusing specifically on how the camps stripped POW s of their ability to act out their masculinity. Using the Slavuta POW camp as a case study, it argues camp life prevented prisoners from embodying two dominant versions of masculinity from the 1940s: the heroic Red Army soldier, and Lilya Kaganovsky’s concept of the masculinity of lack. This was true according to the Soviet state, but also reflects the narratives of POW-survivors, who made no attempts to claim that their struggle to survive in the notoriously deadly German POW camps was heroic. It draws on written accounts from POW survivors, sketches created by two POW-artists who spent time in the camp, and documentary photographs taken by Soviet state investigators after the camp’s liberation, all of which can be found within the files of the Soviet investigative body the Extraordinary State Commission.

Post-war Soviet elections 1947–1953: features of conduct and social significance (based on materials from the city of Gorky)

The article examines the features of the conduct and social significance of elections to Soviet authorities in 1947–1953. The importance of studying this topic is associated with the need to study the state of Soviet society during the designated period. The study of elections to local authorities allows us to reconstruct the tasks that the Soviet authorities set when conducting election campaigns, the features of their conduct in different localities, the reaction of citizens, their orders and expectations from election campaigns and electoral actions. In the course of the study, using new data from archival documents, it was possible to establish the dates and features of the election campaigns to the Soviet authorities in 1947, 1950, 1953. It was noted that regular election campaigns contributed to increasing the political knowledge of citizens, introducing them to Soviet political culture, and also formed a «positive image» of the authorities in the eyes of Soviet citizens. At the same time, election campaigns revealed that Soviet citizens had a number of critical comments about the nominated deputies, which suggests the existence of dissatisfaction with certain aspects of everyday life that did not affect the main directions of Soviet state policy.

Soviet historiography of the period of «late Stalinism»: on cultural and educational work in the Red Army during the Great Patriotic War (22.06.1941–09.05.1945)

One of the essential reasons for achieving the victory of the Soviet people in the Great Patriotic War (22.06.1941–09.05.1945) was that the Armed Forces of the Soviet state carried out, and permanently, purposefully, actively, proactively and creatively, party political work. Its inalienable part was cultural and educational work, which had a small degree of independence. The historical phenomena mentioned above were constantly in the sphere of scientific interests of Soviet historians. Meanwhile, in post-Soviet historiography, they did not become significant in research practice. In modern Russian historiography at the beginning of the XXI century, such a bias is gradually being eliminated. The author of this small historiographical study, carried out in the format of a short scientific article, presents to the scientific and historical community an analysis of Soviet historiographical sources published during the period of «late Stalinism» (1945 – about the first half of the 1950s), that is, at a time when the cult of personality of I.V. Stalin reached its peak the highest point. The author, revealing the subject of his research, took into account in every possible way the historiographical situation that developed in Soviet historical science during the period of «late Stalinism», in particular, the development of historiography in the coordinate system of the Stalinist theoretical and methodological paradigm (and even more rigid than in the second half of the 1930s); a small number of historiographical and historical sources what was published in the chronological framework indicated above, as well as the absence of a proper historiographical elaboration of our problem. The article is carried out from the standpoint of modern theoretical and methodological approaches.

International Regulation of Pensions in the EAEU: Problems and Development Prospects

The EAEU countries, having adopted the Agreement on Pension Security in 2019, took a big step forward to form the pension rights of migrants from the EAEU countries. However, existing difficulties caused by economic, demographic characteristics and institutional differences make us think about further steps to harmonize, unify and coordinate the pension systems of the EAEU countries.Aim. Consider themechanisms and the principles of international regulation of pensions in the EAEU countries and identify limitations and opportunities for its further improvement.Tasks. Explore global experience of cooperation in the pension sector; conduct an analysis of international regulation of pensions in the post-Soviet space and in the EAEU countries; identify difficulties in forming pension rights for migrants from EAEU countries; to find possible directions for the further development of pension legislation in the EAEU countries.Methods. The comparative analysis method was used to study national old-age pension systems; when determining the directions for the development of old-age pensions for migrants in the world, the historical and legal method was used.Results. The world experience of international regulation of pensions is considered.Differences were discovered in the formation of pension rights in the EAEU countries.The mechanisms of harmonization and coordination, as well as the territorial and proportional principles of legal regulation of old-age pensions are analyzed. The difficulties of forming pension rights for migrants from the EAEU countries are shown.Conclusions. The current approach to regulating pensions in the EAEU is not perfect, but it allows countries to remain independent in their national pension policies. Overcoming the existing difficulties in the formation and implementation of pension rights is possible with further harmonization, unification and coordination of the EAEU pension systems, which are complicated by the economic and demographic operating conditions and the lack of a unified strategy for the development of pensions in the EAEU. A fundamental issue for all countries is to determine the role of the state in the pension process.

Causes and consequences of language manipulation with the concept of «patriotism» and criteria its distinction with nationalism

INTRODUCTION. The concepts of “nationalism” and “patriotism”, “nazification” and “denazification” are used in the modern context without taking into account the history of their formation, which increases the possible escalation of social conflicts. The purpose of study – is to identify the causes and consequences of linguistic manipulation of the concept of “patriotism” and the criteria for its distinction with the concept of “nationalism”.MATERIALS AND METHODS. The studied facts of history examine the stages of development of nationalism and patriotism in the countries of Europe, the Russian Empire, the USSR and in the post-Soviet space. To study their interaction, a comparative historical method of understanding reality is used.RESEARCH RESULTS. The types of states that are built on different principles depending on the attitude of the power elites to patriotism and nationalism are analyzed: (1) protonationalism of Ancient Greece, formed on the basis of slavery; (2) nationalism in Europe with an amendment to the inviolability of property and individual freedom in bourgeois states, justifying the colonization of “unenlightened” peoples; 3) patriotism in the Russian Empire, established on the basis of Orthodoxy and citizenship, taking into account national and territorial covertness; (4) Soviet patriotism, built on the ideology of internationalism, equality and unity of national republics; (5) neopatriotism, which excludes nationalism as an ideology of superiority “titular” of a nation or state.CONCLUSION. The signs of nationalism are determined, revealing its destructive essence and making it possible to consolidate the social essence of patriotism in the structure of personal, state and interethnic relations. the significance of the model of openness of cultures, economies, religions and languages that create conditions for the formation of multipolar civilizations is substantiated.

Inclusive education in schools in Russia and Kazakhstan: Attitudes and well-being of teachers as related factors in the formation of an inclusive environment

Inclusivity has become the cornerstone of many government policies for the development of education in the two largest post-Soviet countries, namely Russia and Kazakhstan. In this study, we focus on teachers’ attitudes towards inclusive education, taking into consideration individual and institutional factors that may promote or hinder the implementation of appropriate policies. The study was conducted in 2020 in Russia and Kazakhstan, and is based on a survey of secondary school teachers (N = 3444). The use of latent class analysis allowed us to demonstrate how exactly satisfaction with professional activity, assessment of support from colleagues and school administration, ideas about responsibility for the success of educational inclusion of different actors, professional burnout (both general and related to diversity), attitudes towards inclusive education of children with disabilities, and readiness to implement inclusive practices in professional activities are connected in the perception of teachers. Thus, the research presented in the article contributes to understanding the mechanisms and prospects for the development of educational inclusion in the post-Soviet space, taking into account the needs of teachers as key actors of inclusion, the satisfaction of which creates a stable support for the cultivation of inclusive values and practices of overcoming inequality in education.

The Eurasian Space in Chinese Official and Academic Discourses

The «Belе and Road Initiative» (BRI), proposed by China, marked a new phase in its external openness and growing desire to influence regional and global processes. However, BRI should not be viewed solely as a Chinese blueprint for restructuring Eurasia. The broad interpretative and geographical scope set by Chinese authorities allows flexibility in adapting the initiative to specific regions and countries, which is strategic for modifying or withdrawing commitments as needed. This paper examines why BRI has not become the foundation for a Chinese concept of Eurasia despite its significant impact on regional geopolitics.Our analysis begins with a critical examination of President Xi Jinping's speech at Nazarbayev University in 2013, identifying the nuanced usage of «Eurasia» that primarily refers to the post-Soviet space rather than the entire Eurasian continent. We delve into the subsequent official documents, noting the delay and ambiguity in defining the geographical and conceptual boundaries of BRI. The 2015 document, "Vision and Actions on Jointly Building Silk Road Economic Belt and 21st-Century Maritime Silk Road," illustrates the initiative's extensive and vague geographical scope, indicating that China did not initially aim for a broad Eurasian strategy.By employing Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA), we uncover how China's official rhetoric strategically frames BRI. The analysis reveals that Chinese discourse emphasizes bilateral rather than multilateral engagements within Eurasia, reflecting a «point-to-point» rather than a networked approach. This strategic ambiguity allows China to navigate its relationships with key regional players, notably Russia and the Central Asian states, without committing to a comprehensive Eurasian integration framework.The findings highlight the cautious and adaptive nature of China's engagement with Eurasia. The shift from a regional to a global scope in BRI discourse underscores China's pragmatic approach in balancing its regional ambitions with global aspirations.

Small arms procurement and corruption in small NATO countries

PurposeThe study aims to assess military procurement strategy in NATO countries labelled as emerging markets (Czechia, Slovakia and Lithuania) and capitalist Norway, which vary in national culture as indicated by the Hofstede Culture Compass.Design/methodology/approachThis comparative case study analyses the procurement of a simple, mass-produced, off-the-shelf military product (FN Herstal MINIMI gun) in four small but very economically free countries from 2008 to 2023. The study answers the research question of how the unit price of MINIMI guns varies across post-communist and historical NATO countries distinguished by the variables operationalising national culture.FindingsThe general disability of the government to control corruption deviates the strategy of military procurement in post-communist defence institutions from an effective strategy of liberal capitalism, minimising the unit price and risks (Norway), to an odd strategy maximising the unit price and risks by preferring middlemen as agent of hidden agenda (Czechia).Research limitations/implicationsSome defence institutions in post-communist countries may be burdened by legislature capture, and detailed research is needed to determine this.Practical implicationsThe authors argue that national culture may contribute to significant goal displacement in the procurement strategy adopted by the government in an economically liberal state.Social implicationsWithout perfecting the control of corruption in post-communist defence institutions, the NATO burden-sharing debate on 2% of GDP will remain controversial.Originality/valueWith variables characterising national culture and the government’s ability to control corruption, the study elucidates a slow pace of convergence of post-communist countries to NATÓs values and procedures.

Troops Management Systems And The Difference Of Cultures. Part Ii (Variants and Lessons of Russian, Soviet and Other Models for Us)

Due to the absence of domestic military science as a separate branch of science, the topic touched on by the USSR’s GS and management culture, the largest bearer of the German model after the FWW, remains an open topic. The Russian and especially the Soviet model was based on the Prussian model and even more today continues to bear the influence of the latter, but in a more refined form. The Russian army was one of the first in the world to follow Prussian innovations. The British model was and still is unacceptable to the Russian mentality and value system. The problem is that liberalism has always been punished in this country, serfdom is still very deep in public perception. It should also be noted that the influence of the Soviet model among the post-Soviet countries was quite large and is still large. But in the second decade of the 20th century, a number of post-Soviet countries began to abandon this model one after another. Although the Soviet model seems to be the main one among the CSTO countries, nevertheless, as a result of the reforms taking place in the Armenian Army after the 44- Day War of 2020, there are tendencies to abandon that model. We hope that they will have a fundamental nature

The English Revolution of the 17th Century as Interpreted by the Representatives of Two Generations of the «Russian Historical School»

This article examines the interpretations of the causes, features, development, and outcomes of the English Revolution of the 17th century by scholars from the «Russian historical school» (école russe). Its older and younger generations were primarily focused on the history of France and the French Revolution. While renowned for their studies on revolutionary France, they also covered other topics. N.I. Kareev (1850–1931), M.M. Kovalevsky (1851–116), P.P. Shchegolev (1903–1936), and I.L. Popov-Lensky (1893–1931) addressed the problems of revolutionary England during the 17th century. Their complex works analyzed the revolutionary process of that period from all angles. Therefore, the theories of the English Revolution and their interpretations by the «Russian historical school» determined the subsequent development of English studies in both Soviet and post-Soviet space.

Understanding the dynamics of English-speaking challenges for students in Kazakhstan

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to explore the English-speaking challenges confronted by English as Foreign Language (EFL) students in the context of Kazakhstan, a Central Asian, post-Soviet nation, particularly focusing on the interrelation of English language fluency issues, psychological conditions and the influence of environmental factors.Design/methodology/approachThis qualitative inquiry is firmly situated in Krashen’s second language acquisition theory. The research cohort comprises ten undergraduates from the esteemed Foreign Languages and Translation Studies Department, their narratives forming the basis for data analysis. The author conducted structured interviews with the participants.FindingsThe findings demonstrate that limited language proficiency not only hinders fluency but also initiates psychological challenges, forming a difficult cycle. Additionally, environmental elements, such as interactions with teachers and peers, have both beneficial and adverse impacts on speaking improvement. Acknowledging and tackling these complex dynamics is crucial for developing focused interventions that foster a supportive learning environment conducive to enhancing language acquisition and fluency.Research limitations/implicationsThe limitation of this research is that the triangulation method in the form of additional semi-structured interviews and/or observation was not used to get more in-depth data.Practical implicationsThe study might be helpful for stakeholders to reflect on the English difficulties they experience and to prepare effective teaching and learning strategies. In particular, EFL teachers may need to use more speaking activities in lessons to help students overcome language barriers in speaking. EFL teachers might also adopt strategies such as not judging learners’ mistakes in the first phase of their language practices until they get used to speaking without any psychological blocks and paying additional attention to vocabulary and grammar knowledge in communicative lessons. EFL students may use the strategies to consciously evaluate their skills and not learn the speaking material by heart beforehand. In addition, university administration may organize regular speaking clubs for students in order to create an immersive environment. Moreover, they might require teachers to show up with their speaking capabilities before hiring English teachers, especially in English-related specialization departments.Originality/valueThe research indicates a lack of support and a judgmental environment, passive involvement in communicative pursuits and memorization as instrumental strategies for augmenting oral proficiency. These reasons have created difficulties in speaking English for students studying in English-specialized departments in Kazakhstan.

Challenged by postmaterialism: left-wing parties in postcommunist Europe

ABSTRACT The article explores the evolution of left-wing voting in the postcommunist countries of Central and Eastern Europe against the background of value shifts. The main trend indicates that those societies are witnessing a gradual transition to postmaterialism. However, examining the parties’ electoral manifestos allowed the authors to conclude that the twenty-first century cannot be characterized by uniform trends: only in the case of environmentalism did the left-wing parties adapt to the changing values of their electorate, while for other indicators the situation was the opposite. The main argument of the study, supported by regression analysis is that only the appeal to green policies prevented the left-wing parties from losing out in electoral campaigns, while the references to multiculturalism and social equality had the opposite effect. Curiously enough, the verbal commitment to traditionalist values also helped the left-wingers to retain their electorate. To get a more complete picture of the voting patterns, the authors carried out an investigation into the left-wing electorate. The conclusion was that supporters of the left-wing parties are increasingly inclined toward postmaterialism. At the same time, the study showed the ineffectiveness of the left-wing political programs. This creates a gap between the left-wing parties and their electorate.

Demand for private health insurance: an empirical study of post-communist countries

The development of voluntary health insurance is characteristic of post-Communist and CEE countries. The aim of the paper is to identify the factors determining the demand for private voluntary health insurance. The main finding of the research is that the most important factor is the demographic factor. Other factors include the factor related to the ineffectiveness of treatment under universal health insurance, the factor related to health condition, the demographic factor related to longevity, and the factor related to insurance awareness and income. The research confirms conclusions from previously published studies. The most important is to confirm that the income factor positively influences the studied phenomenon. However, the results shed new light on the aspect of the demand factor, as this indicates the ageing of society and the consequent increase in private spending on health, which are the key mechanisms in the discussion, with the other factors constituting a complementary element.

Do Retailers Compete Against Informal Firms? A Comparison of the Periods of the Global Crisis and Post-Crisis

This study investigates the transformation of competitive dynamics between formal sector retailers and their informal sector counterparts in Eastern European and Central Asian countries after the 2008-2009 global financial crisis. The absence of extensive government bailouts in these regions intensified the economic repercussions of the crisis. This study used data from the BEEPS II and BEEPS IV (i.e. Business Environment and Enterprise Performance Survey) surveys conducted by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development and the World Bank with a focus on informal competition in Eastern Europe and Central Asia based on data from owners or top-managers of companies working in this region. To investigate the impact of the global crisis on informal competition for retailers, survey results in 2008 (“crisis period”) were compared with the data in 2013 (“post-crisis period”). Non-parametric tests, specifically the Mann-Whitney-Wilcoxon tests, were used to compare the 2008 and 2013 results. Binary logistic regressions were used to identify factors influencing the perception of competition from the informal sector (Pearson correlation coefficients and assessed Variance Inflation Factors to detect multicollinearity issues). Findings reveal a significant shift post-crisis shift with a reduced proportion of formal sector retailers competing with informal firms. Notably, this effect is statistically insignificant for retailers with sole proprietorships and partnerships and those with internationally recognized quality certifications. Moreover, research highlights a diminished perception of informal competitors as substantial hindrances to retailers’ business operations post-crisis. However, this observation is not statistically significant for retail businesses structured as partnerships. Logistic regression indicates that smaller firms, firms led by a more experienced top manager, and firms with a female top manager are more prone to perceive competition from the informal sector. Furthermore, this study delves into the factors shaping retailers’ perceptions across post-Soviet and other transition countries, revealing differences in the impact of firm size and female ownership. This nuanced investigation contributes depth to the current literature concerning the interconnections between formal and informal retail sectors. It offers a comparative analysis focusing on post-Soviet states and other transitioning nations in Eastern Europe and Central Asia.

Online deviance in post-Soviet space: Victimisation, perceptions and social attitudes amongst young people, an Armenian case study

This paper presents a survey-based case study of the experiences and perceptions of, and attitudes towards, various forms of online deviance amongst a largely female, educated sample of young people drawn predominantly from the Armenian capital city of Yerevan. It found high levels of reported victimisation and encounters with online deviance, including from multiple forms of online deviance. Online information that is deliberately misleading, biased or fabricated and information that is abusive or threatening, or that expresses a prejudice against a particular group were the two most widely reported categories of victimisation and encounter. The paper also explores the claim that forms of online deviance enjoy some degree of social legitimacy within post-Soviet space. Our case study found that online deviance enjoys very little social legitimacy amongst survey respondents. The case study explores the ways in which the experiences and perceptions of, and attitudes towards, various forms of online deviance vary across different forms of online deviance in a way that no studies have done previously. It also offers a rare empirical engagement with questions of online deviance within the post-Soviet space and the very first addressing online deviance in Armenia. This paper adds to our limited knowledge of the internal geographies of online deviance within post-Soviet space. The findings presented here begin to challenge the perception of post-Soviet countries, or countries in the post-Soviet space, as constituting a universal cyber-threat landscape and suggest that future research should probe the internal geographies of online deviance (and victimisation) across the region. It also highlights gender as a perspective from which future research might scrutinize online deviance. It further suggests nuanced policy stances more reflective of the empirical realities of different forms of online deviance across post-Soviet space.

Neoliberal feeling rules and political subjectivities in post-Soviet Latvia: narratives of emigrants and those who remain

This study integrates the literature on neoliberal subjectivities with the sociology of emotions, and particularly the notion of feeling rules, to understand the political subjectivity expressions in Latvia where the post-Soviet neoliberal development brought high income and wealth inequality. We specifically ask what the relationship between collective emotions and neoliberal political subjectivity in post-Soviet space is. Based on our empirical data, we construct three ideal types of political subjectivities wherein each holds a different narrative about the neoliberal state. We show the first two dominated among our respondents in Latvia while the third was prevalent among emigrant Latvians. We find that respondents’ narratives dominant at home were framed by neoliberal feeling rules which fostered optimistic thinking (narrative of resilience) and feelings of individual responsibility (narrative of legitimating) silencing the emotion of anger necessary to form a critical democratic dialogue with the state. Meanwhile, emigrant Latvians voiced a more socially and politically aware critique towards the Latvian state, austerity politics and social injustice (narrative of anger). We provide implications for this theory of post-Soviet political subjectivities at the end.