The relics of 1991

In this chapter I want to explore the structure of a generation. Specifically, my generation, those of us who are in their 20s and 30s today and who were school children when the communist governments collapsed in 1991, and who have been, as it were, living in the ruins ever since. Geographically, I want to focus upon the former Soviet republics of Central Asia. This is partially for utility's sake, since I work there as a journalist and political philosopher. It is also partially out of fascination for this theme of ‘ruination’, a motif of collapse, as arguably Central Asia is the most ruined of all the former Soviet regions as its cartography testifies: the Soviets designed the borders, infrastructure, and even decided who would be granted ‘nation’ status in order to exploit old rivalries, engineer new ones, and generally keep the Central Asians dependent upon Moscow. ¹ Since independence, censorship and barbed wire have tended to internalise and sustain these borders in an almost post-apocalyptic manner, i.e. rehearsing the dynamics of Soviet power and values long after their destruction. ²