Evolution of the mechanism of state regulation of Soviet foreign policy propaganda in print media (1917-1963)

Abstract

This article examines evolution of the mechanism of state regulation of Soviet foreign policy propaganda in print media in the period from 1917 to 1963. The goal consists in studying the process of key structural and normative legal changes within the mechanism of state regulation of Soviet foreign policy propaganda in print media, as well as in highlighting the characteristic features of main stages in evolution of the mechanism of state regulation. The subject of this research is the analysis of party and government documents that regulate the activity of propaganda agencies and foreign policy agenda in print media, based on which an attempt is made to determine the primary trends in regulation of foreign policy propaganda in press. The object of this research is the structural changes in public administration with regards to foreign policy propaganda. Special attention is given to the administrative aspect and normative legal base, which are the framework for functionality of the apparatus of Soviet propaganda. The author determines the key stages in formation of foreign policy propaganda in print media, and concludes that the XX Congress of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union marks the establishment of holistic structure of foreign policy propaganda, as well as the emergence of new party and government branches of cultural-ideological impact on the Western countries. The scientific novelty lies in an attempt of comprehensive examination of the process of amending the basic normative legal documents that regulate the activity of public administration authorities in the area of foreign policy propaganda in print media over the period from 1917 to 1963. Based on these structural and normative legal changes, the author characterizes the stages of evolution of the mechanism of state regulation of this sphere.