proSoviet

ProSoviet is a descriptor applied to individuals, groups, or political positions that favor the Soviet Union, its governing institutions, or its ideological lineage. The term is commonly used to denote advocacy for closer ties with Moscow, support for Soviet-style socialism, or defense of the USSR’s legacy in world affairs. The spelling is often hyphenated as pro-Soviet.

Historically, the label was common during the 20th century when the Soviet Union exerted broad influence over international politics. In Eastern Europe and among certain global socialist movements, communist parties aligned with Moscow were described as pro-Soviet; in Western contexts, some leftist organizations identified with a pro-Soviet stance as part of international solidarity with the USSR.

Nuance matters: a pro-Soviet stance can refer to advocacy for the Soviet government’s policies, such as state planning or international diplomacy, or to admiration for Soviet cultural, scientific, and social achievements. At the same time, the term is sometimes used pejoratively by critics who view it as tacit support for authoritarian governance or for Soviet-era repression and foreign policy.

In post-Soviet contexts, the term may describe nostalgia for the USSR or alignment with contemporary Russia’s geopolitical positions, though it is distinct from broader pro-Russian sentiment that developed after 1991.

In scholarly use, pro-Soviet serves as a historical descriptor to analyze ideological alignments, party politics, and memory politics in studies of the 20th century without prescribing endorsement.