Soviet Ghosts in the Russian Hydrocarbon Culture

Abstract

This inquiry addresses the actualisation of the Russian hydrocarbon culture. The research aim is to investigate the spectral presence of the Soviet past in that hydrocarbon culture. Concepts of haunting and spectres refer primarily to the philosophical work of Jacques Derrida. The two research questions are: How does the Soviet past haunt the hydrocarbon culture in Russia? How does this haunting presence affect the virtuality of a decarbonised energy future? In this inquiry, the “method” is described as a deconstructive hauntology. An operationalisation strategy is carved out from two Derridean concepts: hauntology and deconstruction. The research materials come from two sources: the primary materials are five biographical profiles of workers on the website of Russia’s biggest gas producer, Gazprom; secondary literature consists of prior research used to identify the spectres.

This hauntological research unveil the haunting of the Soviet past in the selected publications of Gazprom. The study found that the haunting of Soviet work culture invocates the ghosts of the New Soviet Man and the Stakhanovite movement. More, the spectres of the Soviet patriarchy and the Soviet empire haunt as well the Gazprom content. Among the conclusions, engaging with the Soviet spectres is recommended to settle and re-narrate the past. Thus, an energy narrative for a decarbonised future can be construct freed from Soviet ghosts.