Oleksandr Polianichev
@opolianichev.bsky.social
Historian of Tsarist Russia at Södertörn University, Stockholm | URIS Fellow at @unibas.ch | Colonial and transimperial history | Ph.D. from @eui-eu.bsky.social
Reposted by Oleksandr Polianichev
A British colonial official in India, one month before the 1857 uprising:
“The manner in which India is governed by a few thousand English is very wonderful, but our impunity entirely depends on the want of combination among the natives. If they were to combine we all must come to a crash.”
“The manner in which India is governed by a few thousand English is very wonderful, but our impunity entirely depends on the want of combination among the natives. If they were to combine we all must come to a crash.”
September 30, 2025 at 5:22 PM
A British colonial official in India, one month before the 1857 uprising:
“The manner in which India is governed by a few thousand English is very wonderful, but our impunity entirely depends on the want of combination among the natives. If they were to combine we all must come to a crash.”
“The manner in which India is governed by a few thousand English is very wonderful, but our impunity entirely depends on the want of combination among the natives. If they were to combine we all must come to a crash.”
A British colonial official in India, one month before the 1857 uprising:
“The manner in which India is governed by a few thousand English is very wonderful, but our impunity entirely depends on the want of combination among the natives. If they were to combine we all must come to a crash.”
“The manner in which India is governed by a few thousand English is very wonderful, but our impunity entirely depends on the want of combination among the natives. If they were to combine we all must come to a crash.”
September 30, 2025 at 5:22 PM
A British colonial official in India, one month before the 1857 uprising:
“The manner in which India is governed by a few thousand English is very wonderful, but our impunity entirely depends on the want of combination among the natives. If they were to combine we all must come to a crash.”
“The manner in which India is governed by a few thousand English is very wonderful, but our impunity entirely depends on the want of combination among the natives. If they were to combine we all must come to a crash.”
Amazing — Britain now has tea plantations in Devon. Even more fascinating: one cultivar comes from Georgia. I’ve written about how British tea in India influenced Caucasus plantations in the 19th century. Now the flow goes the other way.
Move over, Assam. British tea is blooming thanks to this couple
For centuries, Britain has been the world’s most devoted importer of tea. Now it is producing its own — Jo and Kathryn Harper in Dartmoor are among the pioneers
www.thetimes.com
August 25, 2025 at 7:47 PM
Amazing — Britain now has tea plantations in Devon. Even more fascinating: one cultivar comes from Georgia. I’ve written about how British tea in India influenced Caucasus plantations in the 19th century. Now the flow goes the other way.
Comparing Ukraine to Ireland was common throughout the 19th century among both the Ukrainian intelligentsia and government officials. The former stressed the struggle for emancipation from the core imperial identity (British or all-Russian), the latter – the perceived inevitability of assimilation.
I think it was Lenin who compared Ukraine to Ireland, and their relations with their much bigger next door neighbours: partly cultural, partly agricultural supply.
It’s noticeable too, that the attitude of hard line Brexiteers to Ireland is not a million miles from those of Putin(ists) to Ukraine.
It’s noticeable too, that the attitude of hard line Brexiteers to Ireland is not a million miles from those of Putin(ists) to Ukraine.
Yes - the root causes being the existence of Ukraine as a sovereign state, not a Russian vassal.
August 16, 2025 at 1:29 PM
Comparing Ukraine to Ireland was common throughout the 19th century among both the Ukrainian intelligentsia and government officials. The former stressed the struggle for emancipation from the core imperial identity (British or all-Russian), the latter – the perceived inevitability of assimilation.
Saying Alaska was “part of Russia” is like saying India under the East India Company was “part of Britain.” A textbook overseas colony of the empire that, according to Putin, “never colonized anyone,” Alaska was the Russian imperial state’s most peculiar possession. 🧵
August 15, 2025 at 5:13 PM
Saying Alaska was “part of Russia” is like saying India under the East India Company was “part of Britain.” A textbook overseas colony of the empire that, according to Putin, “never colonized anyone,” Alaska was the Russian imperial state’s most peculiar possession. 🧵
Happy to share that over the next six months I’ll be researching and teaching on Ukraine and the Russian Empire at the University of Basel as the new URIS Fellow. Excited for the semester ahead!
August 13, 2025 at 7:14 PM
Happy to share that over the next six months I’ll be researching and teaching on Ukraine and the Russian Empire at the University of Basel as the new URIS Fellow. Excited for the semester ahead!
PK Porthcurno. The most breathtaking location for an archive one could imagine.
August 8, 2025 at 8:04 PM
PK Porthcurno. The most breathtaking location for an archive one could imagine.
Just back from UK archives with mind-blowing finds linking James Watt, Jeremy Bentham, Prince Potemkin, West Indies sugar plantations, and Russia’s first bid to acclimatize exotic plants in its colonial south. Couldn’t imagine a better starting point for my book manuscript.
August 8, 2025 at 4:06 PM
Just back from UK archives with mind-blowing finds linking James Watt, Jeremy Bentham, Prince Potemkin, West Indies sugar plantations, and Russia’s first bid to acclimatize exotic plants in its colonial south. Couldn’t imagine a better starting point for my book manuscript.
Russia just labeled Yale an "undesirable organization." Under the Russian law, even attending one of its conferences could now land you in prison.
meduza.io/en/news/2025...
meduza.io/en/news/2025...
Russia bans Yale University as ‘undesirable organization,’ citing Navalny’s attendance — Meduza
The Russian authorities have declared Yale University an “undesirable organization,” banning its activities on Russian territory
meduza.io
July 8, 2025 at 3:32 PM
Russia just labeled Yale an "undesirable organization." Under the Russian law, even attending one of its conferences could now land you in prison.
meduza.io/en/news/2025...
meduza.io/en/news/2025...
Reposted by Oleksandr Polianichev
Iranian dissidents—including former political prisoners—almost unanimously oppose military intervention, notwithstanding their deep animus toward the Islamic Republic. An in-depth report on this from 10 years ago is suddenly more relevant than ever. My 2015 piece 👇
inthesetimes.com/article/iran...
inthesetimes.com/article/iran...
Iranian Dissidents Explain Why They Support the Nuclear Deal
We know what politicians from the U.S. to Israel think about the Iran nuclear deal. How about asking some opponents of Iran's regime?
inthesetimes.com
June 15, 2025 at 10:10 PM
Iranian dissidents—including former political prisoners—almost unanimously oppose military intervention, notwithstanding their deep animus toward the Islamic Republic. An in-depth report on this from 10 years ago is suddenly more relevant than ever. My 2015 piece 👇
inthesetimes.com/article/iran...
inthesetimes.com/article/iran...
Reposted by Oleksandr Polianichev
My first article for the @erc.europa.eu funded COLVET
project has been published Open Access in @conteurohistory.bsky.social. It explores how the Greater War concept might facilitate better engagement with colonial experiences of conflict in the early 20th century www.cambridge.org/core/journal...
project has been published Open Access in @conteurohistory.bsky.social. It explores how the Greater War concept might facilitate better engagement with colonial experiences of conflict in the early 20th century www.cambridge.org/core/journal...
Rethinking the Colonial in the Greater War | Contemporary European History | Cambridge Core
Rethinking the Colonial in the Greater War
www.cambridge.org
June 13, 2025 at 11:06 AM
My first article for the @erc.europa.eu funded COLVET
project has been published Open Access in @conteurohistory.bsky.social. It explores how the Greater War concept might facilitate better engagement with colonial experiences of conflict in the early 20th century www.cambridge.org/core/journal...
project has been published Open Access in @conteurohistory.bsky.social. It explores how the Greater War concept might facilitate better engagement with colonial experiences of conflict in the early 20th century www.cambridge.org/core/journal...
Reposted by Oleksandr Polianichev
A fascinating essay on Ru colonialism in Asia and the Middle East with this important wrap-up: "The fundamental difference between Western European and Russian imperial histories lies in Russia’s systematic silencing and emphatic denial of its own colonial record."
newlinesmag.com/essays/the-h...
newlinesmag.com/essays/the-h...
The History of Aggression in Asia That Moscow Wants to Erase
Today, Tehran, Pyongyang and Beijing support the Kremlin’s war effort while it poses as anti-imperialist — but Iran, China, and Korea were once the prey of tsarist Russia
newlinesmag.com
June 7, 2025 at 9:39 PM
A fascinating essay on Ru colonialism in Asia and the Middle East with this important wrap-up: "The fundamental difference between Western European and Russian imperial histories lies in Russia’s systematic silencing and emphatic denial of its own colonial record."
newlinesmag.com/essays/the-h...
newlinesmag.com/essays/the-h...
From now on, anyone taking part in the ASEEES
@aseees.bsky.social conference is subject to criminal punishment in Russia. As I understand it, since participants pay a membership fee, they could face up to 5 years in prison for “funding an undesirable organization” (Article 284.1 of the Penal Code).
@aseees.bsky.social conference is subject to criminal punishment in Russia. As I understand it, since participants pay a membership fee, they could face up to 5 years in prison for “funding an undesirable organization” (Article 284.1 of the Penal Code).
Russia has declared ASEEES @aseees.bsky.social an "undesirable organization." ASEEES is the largest Western academic association for Slavic studies. This ruling puts Russian scholars at risk of prosecution for being members or participating in the annual conference.
ovd.info/express-news...
ovd.info/express-news...
Владельца интернет-радио «Эхо» и американское научное общество признали «нежелательными» в России | ОВД-Инфо
Генпрокуратура признала «нежелательными» еще две организации. Информация об этом опубликована на сайте Минюста.В перечень внесли американскую «Ассоциацию славянских, восточноевропейских и евразийских ...
ovd.info
June 5, 2025 at 6:04 PM
From now on, anyone taking part in the ASEEES
@aseees.bsky.social conference is subject to criminal punishment in Russia. As I understand it, since participants pay a membership fee, they could face up to 5 years in prison for “funding an undesirable organization” (Article 284.1 of the Penal Code).
@aseees.bsky.social conference is subject to criminal punishment in Russia. As I understand it, since participants pay a membership fee, they could face up to 5 years in prison for “funding an undesirable organization” (Article 284.1 of the Penal Code).
A fascinating one: Slavophile Ivan Aksakov, trying to prove that Ukrainians had no historical continuity with medieval Rus', supported his claim by arguing that the imperial term "Little Russia" wasn’t used by the people—who called their country "Ukraine."
May 28, 2025 at 4:38 PM
A fascinating one: Slavophile Ivan Aksakov, trying to prove that Ukrainians had no historical continuity with medieval Rus', supported his claim by arguing that the imperial term "Little Russia" wasn’t used by the people—who called their country "Ukraine."
Reposted by Oleksandr Polianichev
In the late 1830s—some 80 years before the Bolsheviks allegedly "invented" Ukraine—Russian intelligentsia described Odessa as an imperial trade hub built to allow Ukraine to "sell off the surplus of its riches."
May 27, 2025 at 6:39 AM
In the late 1830s—some 80 years before the Bolsheviks allegedly "invented" Ukraine—Russian intelligentsia described Odessa as an imperial trade hub built to allow Ukraine to "sell off the surplus of its riches."
In the late 1830s—some 80 years before the Bolsheviks allegedly "invented" Ukraine—Russian intelligentsia described Odessa as an imperial trade hub built to allow Ukraine to "sell off the surplus of its riches."
May 27, 2025 at 6:39 AM
In the late 1830s—some 80 years before the Bolsheviks allegedly "invented" Ukraine—Russian intelligentsia described Odessa as an imperial trade hub built to allow Ukraine to "sell off the surplus of its riches."
Reposted by Oleksandr Polianichev
Why did so many men enjoy picking up a rifle and practising shooting in the German Empire between 1871 and 1914?
📖 Presentation of the book by @camilleriana.bsky.social: Una cultura delle armi (Carocci, 2024)
🗓 29.05. at 17.30
Casa della #Memoria e della Storia
#Siscalt #bookrecommendations
📖 Presentation of the book by @camilleriana.bsky.social: Una cultura delle armi (Carocci, 2024)
🗓 29.05. at 17.30
Casa della #Memoria e della Storia
#Siscalt #bookrecommendations
May 26, 2025 at 4:04 PM
Why did so many men enjoy picking up a rifle and practising shooting in the German Empire between 1871 and 1914?
📖 Presentation of the book by @camilleriana.bsky.social: Una cultura delle armi (Carocci, 2024)
🗓 29.05. at 17.30
Casa della #Memoria e della Storia
#Siscalt #bookrecommendations
📖 Presentation of the book by @camilleriana.bsky.social: Una cultura delle armi (Carocci, 2024)
🗓 29.05. at 17.30
Casa della #Memoria e della Storia
#Siscalt #bookrecommendations
Reposted by Oleksandr Polianichev
Not since the final years of the Cold War has the Kremlin wielded the concept of colonialism as a tool of its foreign policy as aggressively as it does today.
@opolianichev.bsky.social challenges this growing political mythology, for @newlinesmag.bsky.social
@opolianichev.bsky.social challenges this growing political mythology, for @newlinesmag.bsky.social
The History of Aggression in Asia That Moscow Wants to Erase
Today, Tehran, Pyongyang and Beijing support the Kremlin’s war effort while it poses as anti-imperialist — but Iran, China, and Korea were once the prey of tsarist Russia
newlinesmag.com
May 13, 2025 at 7:00 PM
Not since the final years of the Cold War has the Kremlin wielded the concept of colonialism as a tool of its foreign policy as aggressively as it does today.
@opolianichev.bsky.social challenges this growing political mythology, for @newlinesmag.bsky.social
@opolianichev.bsky.social challenges this growing political mythology, for @newlinesmag.bsky.social
In 1891, Nicholas II ended his trip to Japan with two lasting marks: a 9-cm scar on his head from an assassination attempt, and a dragon tattoo on his arm. It was with these traces on his body that he set his sights on expanding Russia’s colonial empire in East Asia:
newlinesmag.com/essays/the-h...
newlinesmag.com/essays/the-h...
May 12, 2025 at 4:32 PM
In 1891, Nicholas II ended his trip to Japan with two lasting marks: a 9-cm scar on his head from an assassination attempt, and a dragon tattoo on his arm. It was with these traces on his body that he set his sights on expanding Russia’s colonial empire in East Asia:
newlinesmag.com/essays/the-h...
newlinesmag.com/essays/the-h...
Reposted by Oleksandr Polianichev
Really great piece on the history between Russia and their "new" allies in the Global South, and the through-lines of colonialism in their past and present relationships newlinesmag.com/essays/the-h...
The History of Aggression in Asia That Moscow Wants to Erase
Today, Tehran, Pyongyang and Beijing support the Kremlin’s war effort while it poses as anti-imperialist — but Iran, China, and Korea were once the prey of tsarist Russia
newlinesmag.com
May 10, 2025 at 3:10 PM
Really great piece on the history between Russia and their "new" allies in the Global South, and the through-lines of colonialism in their past and present relationships newlinesmag.com/essays/the-h...
Reposted by Oleksandr Polianichev
Today, Tehran, Pyongyang, and Beijing are key backers of Russia’s war of expansion. But they share a deeper history: under the last tsar, Iran, China, and Korea themselves fell prey to its colonial appetite. My latest for @newlinesmag.bsky.social on Russia’s imperial record in the Global South.
NEW: The portrayal of Russia as a perennial foe of Western imperialism has become a cornerstone of the Kremlin’s diplomacy. @opolianichev.bsky.social challenges this growing political mythology, for @newlinesmag.bsky.social
newlinesmag.com/essays/the-h...
newlinesmag.com/essays/the-h...
The History of Aggression in Asia That Moscow Wants to Erase
Today, Tehran, Pyongyang and Beijing support the Kremlin’s war effort while it poses as anti-imperialist — but Iran, China, and Korea were once the prey of tsarist Russia
newlinesmag.com
May 9, 2025 at 2:00 PM
Today, Tehran, Pyongyang, and Beijing are key backers of Russia’s war of expansion. But they share a deeper history: under the last tsar, Iran, China, and Korea themselves fell prey to its colonial appetite. My latest for @newlinesmag.bsky.social on Russia’s imperial record in the Global South.
Reposted by Oleksandr Polianichev
An “anti-imperialist” empire?
In an Orwellian inversion of history, “anti-colonialism” has become a hallmark not only of the Soviet Union but even of tsarist Russia. Historian @opolianichev.bsky.social sets the record straight in this @newlinesmag.bsky.social essay.
newlinesmag.com/essays/the-h...
In an Orwellian inversion of history, “anti-colonialism” has become a hallmark not only of the Soviet Union but even of tsarist Russia. Historian @opolianichev.bsky.social sets the record straight in this @newlinesmag.bsky.social essay.
newlinesmag.com/essays/the-h...
The History of Aggression in Asia That Moscow Wants to Erase
Today, Tehran, Pyongyang and Beijing support the Kremlin’s war effort while it poses as anti-imperialist — but Iran, China, and Korea were once the prey of tsarist Russia
newlinesmag.com
May 9, 2025 at 2:03 PM
An “anti-imperialist” empire?
In an Orwellian inversion of history, “anti-colonialism” has become a hallmark not only of the Soviet Union but even of tsarist Russia. Historian @opolianichev.bsky.social sets the record straight in this @newlinesmag.bsky.social essay.
newlinesmag.com/essays/the-h...
In an Orwellian inversion of history, “anti-colonialism” has become a hallmark not only of the Soviet Union but even of tsarist Russia. Historian @opolianichev.bsky.social sets the record straight in this @newlinesmag.bsky.social essay.
newlinesmag.com/essays/the-h...
Today, Tehran, Pyongyang, and Beijing are key backers of Russia’s war of expansion. But they share a deeper history: under the last tsar, Iran, China, and Korea themselves fell prey to its colonial appetite. My latest for @newlinesmag.bsky.social on Russia’s imperial record in the Global South.
NEW: The portrayal of Russia as a perennial foe of Western imperialism has become a cornerstone of the Kremlin’s diplomacy. @opolianichev.bsky.social challenges this growing political mythology, for @newlinesmag.bsky.social
newlinesmag.com/essays/the-h...
newlinesmag.com/essays/the-h...
The History of Aggression in Asia That Moscow Wants to Erase
Today, Tehran, Pyongyang and Beijing support the Kremlin’s war effort while it poses as anti-imperialist — but Iran, China, and Korea were once the prey of tsarist Russia
newlinesmag.com
May 9, 2025 at 2:00 PM
Today, Tehran, Pyongyang, and Beijing are key backers of Russia’s war of expansion. But they share a deeper history: under the last tsar, Iran, China, and Korea themselves fell prey to its colonial appetite. My latest for @newlinesmag.bsky.social on Russia’s imperial record in the Global South.
My comments on Russia's "anti-colonial" myth.
“It is not taken for granted because Russia was truly ‘anti-imperialist’ in the past, but because it actively opposes the West in the present. Should the political climate shift, the skeletons in Russia’s closet will be just as easily brought to light.”
“It is not taken for granted because Russia was truly ‘anti-imperialist’ in the past, but because it actively opposes the West in the present. Should the political climate shift, the skeletons in Russia’s closet will be just as easily brought to light.”
In South Africa, Russia’s ‘anti-colonial’ narrative sways public opinion
Sympathy towards wartime Russia has deep historical roots, back to the Cold War era and earlier.
www.aljazeera.com
March 19, 2025 at 11:46 AM
My comments on Russia's "anti-colonial" myth.
“It is not taken for granted because Russia was truly ‘anti-imperialist’ in the past, but because it actively opposes the West in the present. Should the political climate shift, the skeletons in Russia’s closet will be just as easily brought to light.”
“It is not taken for granted because Russia was truly ‘anti-imperialist’ in the past, but because it actively opposes the West in the present. Should the political climate shift, the skeletons in Russia’s closet will be just as easily brought to light.”
Reading the news while going through the minutes of the US-mediated peace process between Russia and Japan in Portsmouth in 1905 feels oddly surreal.
Ukraine says it is ready to accept 30-day ceasefire, as US says 'ball now in Russia's court'
The US says it is immediately restoring intelligence sharing and
www.bbc.com
March 11, 2025 at 7:49 PM
Reading the news while going through the minutes of the US-mediated peace process between Russia and Japan in Portsmouth in 1905 feels oddly surreal.