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“Soviet Whaling and the Ecology of Revenge Socialism”

Sat, April 2, 8:30 to 10:00am, Westin Seattle Hotel, Cascade 2

Abstract

The Soviet whaling industry, which pursued the world’s whales from 1932 to 1986, operated ostensibly to provide key proteins, vitamins, and lubricants to Socialist consumers. However, the industry usually operated at a loss and its intensity only strengthened as losses mounted. Instead of economically rationality then, a strong cultural consensus around the need to redress perceived wrongs suffered at the hands of Western powers in Russian waters drove this profligate pursuit of whales. This “revenge socialism” was in fact a recurrent component of Soviet foreign policy, one whose impact on environments has received little attention. When applied to the oceans, its consequences could be devastating.

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