Russian Literature Dignity Program
This program expands access to the best of Russian literature, thought, and science through public and school libraries, while explicitly rejecting state propaganda and refusing collective dehumanization.
It is designed as a dignity and de-escalation margin: a way for societies to distinguish people and culture from state violence, creating psychological and political room for de-escalation without erasing accountability.
Purpose
- Preserve the distinction between a government’s actions and a people’s humanity.
- Reduce dehumanization and “civilizational” narratives that harden conflict.
- Offer a culturally credible “dignity off-ramp” space that does not depend on military concessions.
- Strengthen public literacy about Russian cultural history beyond wartime caricature.
What This Is Not
- Not “Russian books everywhere” as a political campaign.
- Not a replacement for accountability or sanctions policy.
- Not an endorsement of the Russian state.
- Not distribution of contemporary state narratives or information operations content.
Program Design (Minimum Viable Model)
1. Independent Curation
Create an independent curation process with:
- Librarians, educators, scholars, translators.
- Published selection criteria.
- Conflict-of-interest rules.
- Rotating membership and transparent minutes (where feasible).
2. What Is Eligible
Eligible materials are:
- Canonical literature and poetry (historical and modern, pluralistic).
- Philosophy, science, mathematics, and cultural history (non-propaganda).
- Diaspora voices and dissident/anti-war voices (where available).
- High-quality translations and bilingual editions where appropriate.
3. What Is Excluded (Anti-Propaganda Guardrail)
Exclude:
- Official state propaganda and “information operations” content.
- Materials produced to justify violence or dehumanize groups.
- Content distributed through state-directed influence channels (as defined by the governance rules).
(See guardrails: Governance & Guardrails)
4. Delivery Channels
- Public libraries (municipal/provincial/state).
- School libraries (middle and secondary).
- University libraries (optional, capacity-dependent).
5. Context Without Indoctrination
Offer optional “context kits” for librarians/teachers:
- Short author notes.
- Historical context.
- Reading lists that include Ukrainian cultural materials to avoid erasure optics.
- Discussion guidance focused on literature/culture, not partisan messaging.
Funding Model (Illustrative)
Implement as grants to libraries/school boards:
- Small grants: Expand collections + translations.
- Medium grants: Collection + events (readings, author panels, scholar talks).
- Large grants: Translation commissioning + regional distribution hubs.
Examples of Collection “Buckets” (Illustrative)
- Classics: Tolstoy, Dostoevsky, Chekhov, Gogol, Turgenev.
- Modernism and Poetry: Akhmatova, Mandelstam, Pasternak.
- Dissidents and Moral Witnesses: Solzhenitsyn (context-dependent), Shalamov.
- Science and Thought: Vygotsky (education/psych), foundational science popularizations.
- Contemporary Plural Voices: Diaspora writers, anti-war voices, independent journalism-as-literature (careful vetting).
Note: Kafka is not Russian; do not include him as part of “Russian literature,” but he can be included in broader “European classics” collections separately.
Metrics (Starter Set)
- Number of participating libraries/schools.
- Titles acquired (by category and language).
- Circulation/borrow rates and reading program participation.
- Event attendance (if events are funded).
- Educator/librarian satisfaction surveys (optional).
See: Metrics & Evaluation
Risks and Mitigations (Headline)
- “This rewards Russia” → Safeguard: Anti-propaganda exclusions + explicit separation of people/state + parallel Ukrainian cultural support in the other pillar.
- “This is propaganda laundering” → Safeguard: Independent governance, transparency, and exclusions.
- “False equivalence” → Safeguard: This track is additive; it does not change accountability, verification, or justice pathways.
See: Risks & Critiques
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