A native of the Ukraine, Shushanik began by explaining the political and geographical makeup of the Soviet Union as well as its ideological tenets, also focusing on how the central government indoctrinated young people with the communist ideology through the use of education and youth organizations. As she explained, when countries such as the Ukraine and Armenia gained independence after the fall of the Soviet Union, they did not necessarily become democratic right away. Shushanik explained how peaceful demonstrations in these countries protested against alleged voter fraud, demanding recounts and fair elections. Students were prompted to imagine Americans’ reactions if something similar were to happen in this country. Would Americans take to the streets en masse if they suspected election fraud??
Shushanik also stressed the importance of colors to the different revolutions such as the Orange Revolution in the Ukraine, the attempted Apricot Revolution in Armenia, and the Rose Revolution in Georgia. These colors and images served as unifying images for people who were supporting democratic reforms. Students had recently covered non-violence in another workshop and they were able to infer some necessary components of a peaceful revolution such as a unifying visible color or icon and a clear motive with all supporters committed to non-violence. Additionally, the presentation added more depth to students’ perceptions of Communism and the Soviet Union by delving further into the aftermath of the Soviet Union’s collapse in specific countries.
To find more information on revolutions in post-Soviet Eastern Europe:
Ukrainian Orange Revolution: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/4061253.stm
Georgian Rose Revolution: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/4532539.stm
Kyrgyz Tulip Revolution:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/kyrgyzstan/1486447/Kyrgyzstan-president-flees-Tulip-Revolution.html
