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Is there a term to describe the cultural group associated with the once-USSR countries?

Most of them are in Asia, but referring to them as Asian doesn't seem to really fit when it comes to culture. And the area spans a large geographic area, so referring it to "North/Central Asian, East Asian, and Yugoslavian" does not really flow well. Also "USSR" does not sound like a good cultural term, even though the countries involved in the specific umbrella cultural group I'm trying to refer to are all former USSR countries. In context, I'm trying to talk about food to someone, and how I've never tried food from places that were once part of the USSR (except for pierogies from a dining hall, which spawned the entire conversation as I wanted to attempt to make them). I mean I could say "Polish," but just as one would say "Southeast Asian Culture" and "Vietnamese/Thai/Cambodian foods" I'm wondering what the umbrella term would be for the culture referring to all former USSR countries. And not all of them are Slavic so... yeah.

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California16

No. The former USSR is huge and is made up of many different ethic groups. Russians, Cossacks, Tatars, Kirgiz to name a few. Many see themselves as their own distinct cultures.

Pleiotropic

This is correct. They not only see each other as "distinct cultures" but in some cases have been at war, as Russians with Chechens and more recently Ukrainians.

TetrisGuy · 26-30, M

See, I'd draw a circle around Russia and the Stans, and Poland/Belarus/Baltics when it comes to culinary borders, just as I would draw a circle around Southeast Asia to encompass Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, and other countries in that area. Sure they are different culturally, but their cuisines are very similar and their culture can be referred to as an umbrella term of "Southeast Asia." Similarly I'm looking for an umbrella term that refers to all these countries.

California16

something like the potoato munchers, the rice eaters, the pie faces, the taco faces, the cous cous hands in bog it in folk, the have nothing at all to eat zone - that kind of mapping out thing?

heartbreakerlifetaker

Which ones were in Asia?

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TetrisGuy · 26-30, M

Yes. See that section under Russia? THAT'S ASIA.

TetrisGuy · 26-30, M

http://cdn.tristro.net/catalog/878/full/t8259-countries-cont-22ee49.jpg

heartbreakerlifetaker

You said 80%. Your words, not mine. Have someone count the Soviet Bloc countries for you. There are 13 total Soviet Bloc countries. Seven of them are in Europe. That's 54%.
Damn, girl. You're stupid in geography AND math.

GnatFree

Second World Countries are countries that were formerly Soviet occupied or part of the USSR bloc.

SarcasticCommentLoading

Soviet bloc?

TetrisGuy · 26-30, M

I feel as if that'd be better if talking about the area in terms of politics. "Former Soviet" or "Former USSR." It doesn't seem to fit for a cultural term, though. I just refer to the area as such, but it doesn't "feel right." I feel as if there's a proper term for the cultural group specifically--if not one term, then one or two terms (I feel as if the European part is somewhat culturally different to the Asian part, but they share many similarities--but I suppose they're different enough to break into two groups when it comes to cuisine)

AnthonyFerreira1997

I agree. Just like the U.S.A. used to have the leadership geographically/politically tied to England etc..

The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, and the countries/states within Eastern Europe, will all geographically be diverse now, and always. As for what cultures lie within there currently.., idk.

Tourism would give us all the answer though .(We'll be more open minded if we acknowledge diverse people/landscapes in general). Just as the U.S. Is united geographically but diverse culturally, the same can be said for the other nations as well.

TetrisGuy · 26-30, M

Western Europe is the only region I've explored thoroughly. I've touched many other countries, but I haven't been through them enough to truly get a feel for its cultural diversity within each region.

ozgirl256

The stans

TetrisGuy · 26-30, M

Not all of them are -stan though.

ozgirl256

True... What about keeping it simple... Cuisine from the ex soviet block

Pleiotropic

Eastern European

LordJackass

Slavic?

LordJackass

Oh okay I saw what you said about them...in that case I dont have a clue.

roobs42

socialist culture

NightGalleries

Warsaw

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