Kolartz, Walter

Walter Kolarz (in some Russian sources Walter Kolarz , German: Walter Kolarz ; 1912 - July 21, 1962 ) is a British Sovietologist of Czech origin (from Sudeten Germans ).

Together with his wife Alexandra (nee Lipovskaya, 1913-2000), a Russian emigrant, settled in the UK in 1939 , worked in the BBC analytical service.

In 1942 , he published the first book, Stalin and Eternal Russia: The Roots of Soviet Patriotism ( German: Stalin und das ewige Russland: Die Wurzeln des Sowjetpatriotismus , English translation of 1944 ), followed by Myths and Reality in Eastern Europe ( Eng. Myths and realities in Eastern Europe ; 1945 ) “Russia and its colonies” ( eng. Russia and Her Colonies ; 1952 ), “How Russia is governed” ( Eng. How Russia is ruled ; 1953 ), “Peoples of the Soviet Far East” The Peoples of the Soviet Far East ; 1954 ).

Kolarz’s particular interest in religious issues was reflected in the books Islam in the Soviet Union ( Eng. In the Soviet Union, 1917-1960 ; 1960 ) and the most significant Religion in the Soviet Union ( eng. Religion in the Soviet Union ; 1961 ) . In particular, the work of Kolarz comes from the idea (noted by the newest researcher as important) that the role of Islam in the life of the peoples of the traditional Muslim area in the Soviet period does not come down to religious practices themselves (which were, on the whole, in decline), but remain significant at the level of self-determination and everyday customs ^[1] .

A posthumous collection of articles by Kolarz “Communism and Colonialism” and the annotated bibliography “Books on Communism” prepared by him ( English Books on Communism ; London, 1963, New York, 1964) were published, which examined English-language literature from 1945 .