The specter of the URSS, built on three fundamental political myths, continues to haunt the minds of some members of Moldovan society. These myths are: the “Great October Socialist Revolution,” the “Great Leader Lenin,” and the “Great Patriotic War.” Why this persists and what can be done about it were topics discussed during the public debate “Three Fundamental Myths Sustaining the USSR,” organized by the IPN News Agency.
Igor Botan, a permanent expert for the project, explained that myths are reinterpretations of reality crafted by their original creators. Political myths, specifically, focus on ideological narratives that frame historical or current events in a specific way, often influencing perceptions of the future. “Political myths vary by group and era, encompassing examples like the myth of the savior, myths about the origins of the state or nation, the golden age myth, and today, the conspiracy myth”, Botan noted.
These myths influence citizens' attitudes and, indirectly, political decisions. Political revolutions, as Boțan clarified, are often violent, rapid changes in social order, typically occurring during transitions from feudalism to capitalism, or directly to socialism, as seen in some Asian countries.
Botan described how state leaders elevated to mythological status are often portrayed as infallible, godlike figures descending to save their people. In the USSR, Vladimir Lenin became such a figure, his body mummified and displayed in a mausoleum for citizens to venerate, echoing pagan traditions. Lenin’s successor, Stalin, extended this myth, with the slogan “Stalin is Lenin today”.
Dr. Octavian Ticu, a historian and researcher at the Institute of History, Moldova State University, categorized myths into two main types: spontaneous and organized. For example, the “Ștefan cel Mare” myth emerged naturally over time and has clear roots in folklore. In contrast, organized myths gained prominence post-World War I, as political regimes - totalitarian or democratic - leveraged mass politics to shape public perceptions.
This myth-making, Ticu argued, isn’t unique to the Soviet Union. Fascist regimes, Nazism, and even Western democracies have created myths with varying degrees of truth. The power of myths lies in their irrational appeal, functioning like religious beliefs beyond empirical knowledge.
Ticu highlighted the consensus among historians that the so-called “Great October Socialist Revolution” was part of a broader series of events spanning February 1917 to December 30, 1922, culminating in the formation of the URSS. Within this timeline, myths include the February and October revolutions, with the latter more accurately described as a coup on October 25, 1917. The real revolutionary turning point was the dissolution of the Constituent Assembly on January 5-6, 1918, which paved the way for the Bolsheviks’ consolidation of power, marked by the Red Terror, White Terror, and civil war.
Political commentator Nicolae Negru, author of the novel “A Hostile Offspring,” shared that Soviet history books and media presented narratives starkly contradictory to reality. Claims that the USSR was the most peaceful country, a workers’ and peasants’ state, or a bastion of democracy were false. For instance, although touted as a state that cared for children, deportations - including Negru’s own experience as a toddler - told a different story.
Negru noted that while many people understood the gap between propaganda and reality, others believed the myths. “For example, people readily accepted the falsehood that the Moldovan language was distinct from Romanian, despite evidence to the contrary, such as broadcasts from Iași or Romanian newspapers. This belief was enforced through fear and repression”, he said.
The debate, part of the series “The Impact of the Past on Trust and Peacebuilding Processes,” highlighted how Soviet myths continue to shape perceptions today. Organized by the IPN News Agency, this project is supported by the German Hanns Seidel Foundation.
