Starving For Attention: Russia's Problematic Food History

Delve into the harsh culinary history of Russia in this episode of The Dark Side of Dining, as host Kenny Mears welcomes back author and food scholar Darra Goldstein to explore how food has continuously shaped, and often plagued, the nation. Goldstein, a professor of Russian literature, reveals that Russia's challenges stem from a combination of geographical hostility (poor soil in the North) and severe political weaponization of food. Historically, natural famines were common due to weather and superstitious agricultural practices, but the 20th century transformed hunger into a tool of political control. Discover the brutal period of Stalin's collectivization, where grain was requisitioned from the fertile Chernozem soil of Ukraine, leading to the deliberate starvation of approximately five million people in the Holodomor. Goldstein highlights how this pattern of using food as a weapon continues today with the Russian invasion of Ukraine, noting the early blockade of grain shipments from the Black Sea ports, which quickly turned a regional issue into a global food crisis. The conversation also explores the legacy of the Soviet era: while starvation was rare, the food supply was monotonous. Today, however, with the collapse of the Soviet safety net, poverty has led to genuine hunger among the elderly, while sanctions have paradoxically spurred Russian ingenuity, leading to the successful domestic production of formerly imported Western goods like hard aged cheeses (Russian Feta, Russian Brie). Ultimately, Goldstein offers a crucial lesson from the Russian experience: the importance of self-sufficiency and resilience, encouraging listeners to cultivate their own food (even small dacha-style garden plots for potatoes and pickles) as a hedge against unpredictable future hardship.Find out more about Darra and her work!Website: https://darragoldstein.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/darra.goldstein/Follow The Dark Side of Dining:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thedarksideofdining?igsh=cGkwdXp1MWRuN2tpFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1G88ZywYK5/