This publication explores how societies in the former Soviet space are rethinking history, memory, and cultural heritage in the aftermath of imperial and totalitarian rule. It argues that decolonizing memory means reclaiming the right to tell one’s own history, rather than accepting narratives imposed by Soviet or Russian imperial power. The essays show how memory is shaped by institutions, laws, monuments, cities, museums, and cultural frameworks that can continue to reproduce injustice if they remain unexamined.
Focusing on cases such as Ukrainian socialist cities and Western representations of “Russian” art, the volume highlights the tensions between decolonization and heritage preservation, the persistence of colonial patterns in knowledge production, and the risks of simplifying diverse histories under unified labels. It also questions the idea of the “post-Soviet” as a fixed condition and emphasizes that colonial experiences and memories differ widely across regions. Throughout the collection, contemporary art and participatory practices are presented as key tools for confronting difficult pasts, opening public dialogue, and imagining more just and inclusive futures.
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