Soviet State and Siberian Workers During the Second World War: Forced Strategy of Social and Labor Communication

Abstract

The article reveals the mechanisms and dynamics of announcing the threat of criminal punishment for violations of the industrial discipline in the public space of the Siberian rear and the reaction of the workers of the regional military industry in 1940-1945. The methodological base of the research is the authors conception about two types of social and labor communications - motivational and compulsory. The extreme nature of the Second World War era led to an increase of the role of coercion as a component of the motivation of industrial work. In line with this trend, changes have been made in the functioning of verbal, figurative, symbolic and behavioral channels for the translation of the decrees of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR from June 26, 1940 and December 26, 1941, carried out by institutions and representatives of the authorities at different levels. Furthermore, the article shows the transformation of forms of response of the defense industry personnel in Siberia on the application of these laws, taking into account changes in its composition, conditions of life, awareness and perception of the industrial relations system. The conclusion is drawn that the compulsory strategy of social and labor communication on the part of the Soviet state passed the tortuous path from a highly- to low-effective technology of preventing crimes on the economic front. From the point of view of the working class, it rose from the zero level to the requirements of improving everyday life under the threat of desertion and, eventually, to a conscious protest against the mobilization of labor in the military industry.