Beyond the Spotlight: Informal Networks and Everyday Dissent in 1960s-1970s Soviet Ukraine

• In Event: Legacies of Resistance: Memory and Dissent from the Soviet Era to Today

Abstract

This paper examines societal resilience and memory through informal intellectual and activist networks in Soviet Ukraine during the 1960s-1970s. Drawing on firsthand recollections from lesser-known dissidents such as Vasyl' Kondriukov and Oles' Nazarenko, I explore how they navigated ideological constraints, formed discussion circles, and engaged in critical thought despite political risks. These localized, informal networks facilitated the circulation of ideas and early samvydav (samizdat), operating alongside more visible opposition. By analyzing these narratives, this paper contributes to a deeper understanding of the human dimension of political resistance in Soviet Ukraine and the enduring legacy of dissident movements in shaping national identity and democratic values.

Author

• Roman Tashlitskyy, U of Toronto (Canada)