Construction of the Notion of "Genocide" in the Identity Policy at the Post-Soviet Area (the Cases of Lithuania, Ukraine and Kazakhstan)

The paper "Construction of the Notion of "Genocide" in the Identity Policy at the Post-Soviet Area (the Cases of Lithuania, Ukraine and Kazakhstan)” analyzes the problems of national identity construction in the countries of the former USSR and pays attention to the use of the term "genocide" in this process. The purpose of this work was to find common reasons for "genocide" construction in the identity policy of post-soviet countries with different socio-political features. Thus, this work analyses the concept of identity policy, examines why "genocide" has become one of the instruments in identity policy, and also considers postcolonial theory as one of the possible explanations of genocide construction at the post-soviet space. According to this theory, former soviet republics were constructing genocide in order to escape from Russian influence because they associate Russia with the successor of the USSR. In the second part of the paper, we analyze three contrasting cases – Ukraine, Lithuania and Kazakhstan, focusing on the general context of identity policy in these countries and interpretations of genocide, actors in the process of genocide construction, their goals and methods. Then, we compare these cases and identify common and particular reasons for genocide use in all three countries. As a result, we came to conclusion that, in addition to the main goal for all three states – to distance themselves from Russia, Ukraine, Lithuania and Kazakhstan were using genocide also for other reasons. For instance, in all three countries former elites, which have stayed in power in new states, were constructing genocide in order to reinforce their position and get rid of accusations of communist crimes. In addition, we have identified a range of reasons common to pairs of countries, as well as particular features of genocide construction in singular countries.