The Soviet Trans-substantiation: From Empire to Algorithm, From Plan to Platform

This paper argues that the collapse of the Soviet Union was not a disappearance but a process of trans-substantiation: institutional logics, informational architectures, and techniques of behavioral governance migrated into contemporary algorithmic infrastructures and platform governance. Through case studies (Gosplan, OGAS, Gazprom, Norilsk Nickel), comparative agricultural evidence, and geopolitical synthesis, the study demonstrates continuity between Soviet systemic rationality and twenty-first century data governance. This reframing invites scholars to conceptualize post Cold War transformations as structural migration rather than terminal collapse. Significance: Reorients debates on post-Soviet transition; bridges Soviet cybernetic thought with contemporary algorithmic governance; provides interdisciplinary anchors for political economy, digital studies, and global history researchers. Provenance: Originally published on Medium.com and subsequently mirrored on Academia.edu, ResearchGate, SlideShare, and Humanities Commons (see related identifiers). Images and excerpts included under U.S. Fair Use for scholarly purposes. Users should respect moral rights and seek permission for commercial reuse. Recommended citation: Md Merajul Islam & Coulardeau, J. (2025). The Soviet Trans-Substantiation: From Empire to Algorithm, From Plan to Platform. Zenodo.