State Socialism Research Articles

The Effect of Changes in Communist Ideology after 1953 on repressive Policies and KGB Operations

Communist ideology and its changes after 1953 were an important indicator of internal developments in the Soviet Union and its repressive policies. The ideology legitimated persecution of dissenters and established the use of specific methods against them. The new ideological concepts concealed reprisals against resistance fighters, because anti-Soviet activities were criminalised or portrayed as acts of mentally ill people. Perhaps the most important concept of the Communist ideology having an effect on the repressive policies of the Soviet Union was the so-called Western ideological sabotage, which was considered to be the source of all manifestations of anti- Soviet activity. All contacts with the West were therefore perceived as threatening to the socialist system and became a special focus for the KGB. Even the improved relations with the West did not prevent the continued offensive of propaganda, intelligence work, and disinformation against the West. The concept of “dictatorship of the proletariat” was replaced with the concept of the “all-people’s state”, which was concealed Russification leading to the destruction of national aspirations.

Regional Claims Through Exhibitions—The Transnational Circulation of Włocławek “Fajans” in East Central Europe

The article examines the exhibition history of hand-painted ceramic objects from the “Fajans” factory in Włocławek and the politics of regional contextualization during the period of détente in the 1970s and 1980s. It extends both existing scholarship on transnational art history in socialist Europe and the notion of cultural diplomacy, approached here in the context of regional politics and economic frameworks. The paper highlights the peripheral networks and movements that developed in relation to the socialist cultural politics of working-class artistic engagement and artistic practice as labor. Questions of cooperation between Poland and other socialist states are of particular interest, as are the implications of détente for East Central Europe. The reconstruction of the transnational circulation of “Fajans” objects is based on a comparative analysis of international “Fajans” exhibitions, using documentation from the archives of the Faience Department of the Museum of the Kujawy and Dobrzyń Land, as well as from the archives of the city of Novi Sad. Based on the researched material and the conceptual framework of transnational art history, the article proposes a concept of regional cultural diplomacy.

Making or faking capitalism? Socialist dreams and postsocialist experiences in East-Central Europe

ABSTRACT Our paper proposes to rethink the concepts of modernization and modernity in the context of state socialist and postsocialist transformations in Eastern and Central Europe. By focusing on historical transformations, we seek to challenge normative and static constructions of the state socialist legacy and show that such perceptions are rooted in the Cold War ideological division. One way to contest this division is to reconceptualize socialist modernity. Drawing on James Ferguson’s seminal study on the “expectations of modernity,” we argue that modernization was central to the Eastern European Communist parties’ claims to legitimacy. While the state socialist experiment proved to be a failed political and social project, the dreams of modernity bereft of socialism continued to shape people’s self-images and social visions beyond the borders of “Eastern” Europe. In order to better understand the state socialist legacy and the political and social thinking of “postsocialist” people, we propose to link the study of the small transformations of everyday life with the critique of binary constructions of the concepts of socialism and capitalism.

Research on Mixed Ownership Reform of State-Owned Enterprises from the Perspective of Marxist Political Economy

Under China’s socialist system, state-owned enterprises are key forces driving the economic trajectory and providing strong momentum. These enterprises not only bear the crucial responsibility of advancing the process of national modernization but also serve as the core of the national economic lifeline through their irreplaceable status and function amidst changing times. In the new era, with the advent of the technological revolution and the wave of globalization, state-owned enterprises face unprecedented opportunities and challenges. As a significant aspect of state-owned enterprise reform, the mixed ownership reform is not only a transformation in the structure of enterprise ownership but also a reflection of China’s broader, comprehensive reform efforts. By deeply advancing this reform, it will help optimize the allocation of state-owned assets and significantly boost technological and management innovation within state-owned enterprises, ensuring their competitiveness in the intense market environment. Therefore, this paper will conduct an in-depth analysis of the mixed ownership reform of state-owned enterprises from the perspective of Marxist political economy.

Adalékok az abortusz büntetőjogi megítélésének történetéhez

Aim: To examine how the social and, at the same time, legal perception of induced abortion has changed since the Middle Ages. Examining the criminal law norms seems to be a good indicator of this because these norms are meant to play the role of a capstone for the protection of social values. Methodology: Processing and analysis of legal norms and literature data from a historical perspective. A value-oriented analysis of the mentioned sources accompanies this. Findings: The normative system of the middle ages was permeated by the Christian religion and the morality based on it. Thus, at this age, there was no doubt that taking away the life of the fetus was a sin and a crime as well. This rule prevailed in later times until 1945. The abortion ban that remained after the communist takeover was based on entirely different moral foundations. It was based on the fact that workers are needed for social development, and taking away fetal life deprives socialist society of this resource. State socialism later relaxed the rules. This change was followed by the criminal law with a significant lag until finally, in 1962, only illegal abortion was punishable. The changes after the regime change consolidated the legislative attitude according to which the fetus is not a human being. The criminal law norms are also in line with this. Value: Historical outline of the protection of fetal life, with particular regard to its protection under criminal law. Changes in European culture led to the development of different images of people. An imprint of these is the protection of fetal life.

Belousov, A. (2023). Culture. Literature. Folklore: Selected articles. Ed. by E. Belousova. Moscow: Novoe literaturnoe obozrenie. (In Russ.)

This posthumous collection of A. Belousov’s articles throws light on his scholarly interests. He was always fascinated by self-contained cultures that challenged the preeminent conventions of the day: Old Ritualist Orthodoxy, subcultures of various educational institutions (including Russian school folklore), as well as the provinces (in opposition to the capital city: while residents of the capital seek to slight provincials, the latter remain internally self-sufficient; in focus are provincials, people socially disenfranchised as a result of the Bolshevik revolution, as well as children pushed to the margins of the developing socialist state in L. Dobychin’s books). A doctoral student of Y. Lotman, whose structuralist studies caused seismic shifts, Belousov published his works in collections on secondary modelling systems, yet remained preoccupied with a human personality rather than verbal text as such. In his monographs, Belousov would outline topics, leaving others to do the research. Accordingly, an article by S. Neklyudov prefacing the collection is entitled ‘A Pioneer’ [‘Pervoprokhodets’].

Early state socialism and eugenics: Premarital medical certificates in Czechoslovakia, East Germany, and Poland in the aftermath of World War II

The article discusses the immediate post-war persistence and subsequent rejection of eugenics in East-Central European socialist states, exploring the case of premarital medical certificates. Building our analysis on published and archival sources, we show that immediately after the war, policies formulated at the governmental level were informed by eugenic ideas in medical expertise. Premarital medical certificates were aimed at combatting contagious diseases and thus securing a healthy population. Their legal status varied: in Poland, they were formally introduced; in the Soviet Occupied Zone and East Germany, Nazi law was abolished, but local officials still advocated for the introduction of certificates; and in Czechoslovakia, medical certificates were planned but not introduced. Despite these differences, after a short period between 1949 and 1950, the attempts to put a measure into practice ended in all three countries. We argue that the communist takeover and consolidation of power played a decisive role. After 1950, premarital medical certificates were not discussed again in Czechoslovakia or East Germany; in Poland, the debate re-emerged in 1959–60 during political liberalization.

What does voluntariness do to participation? Mitmachen in New Deal America and National Socialist Germany, 1933−1945

ABSTRACT This article interrogates the significance of voluntary participation to both liberal and illiberal societies. Based on conceptual discussions of the terms voluntariness and mitmachen, the article merges two exemplary studies of court cases in New Deal America and Nazi Germany. Both cases bring out how liberal and illiberal societies depend on, rely on, motivate, inculcate, demand, and try to enforce their citizens’ voluntary participation, which is best captured by the German term mitmachen. In both New Deal America and National Socialist Germany, it was evidently the voluntariness of participation that constituted what was perceived as a good citizen-subject. Yet both cases show citizens’ reluctance and even refusal to comply with the state’s demand for voluntary participation. They also exhibit differences in this regard. Whereas the defendants in the American court case succeeded in denying the state the right to enforce their participation against their will, for the German defendant, accused of undermining the war effort, his voluntary engagement for the National Socialist state in other respects had only mitigating effects.

Musealization of Wawel Castle 1945–61 – Royal heritage and political legitimacy in early socialist Poland

ABSTRACT This article’s aim is to analyse why Poland’s socialist authorities decided to transform Wawel Castle into a historic house museum and how they took advantage of its new role in order to bolster their political legitimacy during their rule’s initial period. My argument is that Wawel Castle’s transformation into a historic house museum was motivated by the building’s status as the ultimate national symbol and its specific geopolitical situation. Situated in Cracow, far from the capital city, it could have played only a marginal role as an official residence in Poland’s highly centralised political life. Therefore, the socialist state ventured to exploit this heritage’s symbolic potential differently. The establishment of the historic castle museum demonstrated the regime’s attachment to national heritage, serving also to adapt the castle to its socialist vision. The castle’s musealization could legitimize the regime in the eyes of non-socialists without sacrificing its ideological agenda.

Reluctant Compliance and Collaborative Fiscal Disobedience: How Hmong Consumers Evade Value-Added Tax in Vietnam’s Northern Uplands

For decades, the Vietnamese socialist state has failed to enforce taxation on local Hmong in Đồng Văn, a vast karst plateau in the country’s northern upland region. A recent rise in local tax revenue from Value-Added Tax (VAT) is optimistically perceived by state authorities as a turning point in the fiscal relationship between the state and the evasive population. This article shows that what appears to be a ‘success’ of taxation is the result of both reluctant compliance of local Hmong with a new technique of state control that ties consumer desires to the payment of tax, and their continued pursuit of ‘fiscal disobedience’ using various tactics to evade the novel taxing power of the state. Compared to their previous efforts of tax evasion, evading VAT requires fiscal disobedience of a collaborative kind, involving not only Hmong consumers but also vendors and even agents of the state.

Marxism-leninism: the Ideology of Twentieth Century Communism- A Philosophical Reading from Gramscian Perspective

This article explores Marxism-Leninism, the dominant ideology of 20th-century communism, through a philosophical lens rooted in the thought of Antonio Gramsci. By analysing Gramsci's critique of hegemony, state power, and cultural domination, this study re-examines Marxism-Leninism's theoretical foundations and practical applications. Gramsci’s perspective provides a critical assessment of the ways in which Leninist vanguardism and centralized authority both fulfilled and diverged from classical Marxist theory. The article delves into the tensions between the Leninist approach to revolution and Gramsci’s more nuanced understanding of class struggle, civil society, and cultural hegemony, highlighting the implications for revolutionary praxis. This Gramscian reading allows for a reappraisal of the successes and limitations of Marxism-Leninism, particularly in its ability to address the ideological and cultural challenges of maintaining socialist states during the 20th century. Ultimately, the paper argues that Gramsci’s insights offer valuable critiques and alternatives to the orthodoxies of Marxism-Leninism, opening pathways for rethinking communist ideology in contemporary political context.

„Naprosté vzdálení“ u Jindřicha Chalupeckého

Jindřich Chalupecký (1910–1990) made a name for himself in the second half of the 20th century not only by popularising foreign artistic tendencies in Czechoslovakia, but also by his specific idea of the position of Czech (and to a lesser extent Slovak) art in the world. This conception was not solely prompted by the specific cultural situation during the period of state socialism, but can be found already in Chalupecký’s early texts. In the 1930s, as a young critic, he reflected on the relationship between the local and international avant-garde. In the second half of the 1940s, i.e. during the period of the so-called Third Republic, he became involved in the contemporary debate on the East-West relationship. The synthesis of both themes contributed to Chalupecký’s later (unrealistic) belief in the unique position of Czech art in a global context. Chalupecký’s conception of the place of Czech art in the world was not based on an ideologized opposition to the socialist state, but rather on a geographically conditioned perception of the cultural situation in Central Europe. It can also be seen as an early and very distinctive variant of later discussions on the relationship between cultural centres and peripheries.

Research on Enhancing the Affinity of Ideological and Political Theory Courses in Private Universities in the New Era

In the new era, the ideological and political theory courses in private colleges and universities have the problem of insufficient affinity. College students in the new era have distinct personalities, psychology, and value orientations, but some college students feel distant from ideological and political theory courses. They do not pay attention to, understand, or even resist "big concepts" and "big propositions" such as the path, theory, system, and culture of socialism with Chinese characteristics, as well as the lofty ideals and beliefs. Therefore, effective countermeasures must be formed to create a warm ideological and political classroom from the aspects of teaching content, teaching methods, teaching practice, and teacher team building, so as to increase the closeness of ideological and political theory courses among college students. Only in this way can the spirit of patriotism take root in the hearts of students and give play to the positive influence of ideological and political theory courses on the values of young college students.

Addressing Social Issues and Ensuring Social Security in Vietnam During the Renovation Period

Vietnam's national renovation has gone through four decades. Throughout the comprehensive renovation process, the understanding of the fundamental aspects of social life has become increasingly clear, reflecting the essence of the socialist system that Vietnam has chosen. Social issues encompass all aspects of human life. The level of economic development provides the material conditions to implement social policies, but social goals are the ultimate purpose of economic activities. Even within the framework of economic activities, social policies directly impact labor productivity, product quality, etc., hence the need for basic, long-term social policies that align with the requirements and capabilities during the initial phase of the transitional period. This article focuses on clarifying the views and policies of the Party and the Vietnamese government on addressing social issues and ensuring social security; highlighting both the achievements and limitations in the process of addressing social issues and ensuring social security in Vietnam during the renovation period.

The Dilemma of Democracy in Modern Russia: Parliamentarism or Universal Civil Co-government

The civilizational choice of modern Russia has posed to our people the problem of searching for a national idea, choosing a socio-political system that ensures the survival of the Russian state in the context of the global political crisis of liberal representative democracy and armed conflict with the West. Universal civil co-government and libertarian state socialism as a popular initiative coming from the depths of the consciousness of Russian society, acts as the only guideline for state-building capable of ensuring the national path of development of the country, preserving its identity and becoming an example to other peoples.

Revisiting Building for Oil: Daqing and the Formation of the Chinese Socialist State

This review provides a brief introduction and examination of Hou Li’s book Building for Oil: Daqing and the Formation of the Chinese Socialist State. It highlights the historical background of the book, identifies its research questions and summarizes its key themes. The review concludes with a discussion of the book’s distinctive contributions and critiques that may further enrich the analysis or inspire future book projects on the subject.

ĐỔI MỚI TỔ CHỨC VÀ HOẠT ĐỘNG THỰC HIỆN QUYỀN TƯ PHÁP TRONG XÂY DỰNG NHÀ NƯỚC PHÁP QUYỀN XÃ HỘI CHỦ NGHĨA VIỆT NAM

The article aims to clarify the definition of judicial rights and emphasize their independence. Through this analysis, the current status of judicial rights is evaluated, and recommendations for actions and improvements are proposed. These suggestions are aimed at fostering a progressive implementation of judicial rights within the framework of a law-based socialist state in our nation today.

Sports Facility Development and Politics in Budapest since 1945

The interaction between sports and politics has extensively contributed to shaping the sports system, which is evident in the creation of sports facilities and institutions in Hungary. The legal framework of sports organizations, potential of elite and grassroots athletes, incorporation of Hungarian sports into the international sports structure, and public financial funding of physical activity have been dependent on the dominant political powers and existing international diplomatic relationships. The history of sports facility development in Budapest and the role of capital in organising international sporting events faced new political challenges after World War II. During the socialist era, the main role of sports was to prove the excellence of the socialist system; therefore, political leadership provided funds to create a suitable environment for top athletes to train and compete. After the political and economic transition of 1989–1990, sports encountered the challenges of an unfamiliar market economy. After a decade of adaptation, from the beginning of the twenty-first century, sports assumed a new strategic role in creating a healthier society, which included significant investments in Budapest’s sports infrastructure.

Parenting Expertise during Transitions-to-Motherhood. Exploring Transformations in Knowledge Regimes in Poland

This study explores transformations in parenting expertise in Poland, focusing on maternal knowledge perspectives during transitions-to-motherhood. It combines empirical data from two sociological studies: in-depth interviews (with to-be mothers) and expert interviews (with reproductive medicine practitioners; professionals offering antenatal, perinatal, and postpartum care services; and digital parenting advisors). Based on a thematic analysis, we describe the competing visions of parenting expertise in contemporary Poland, treating them as emanations of rapidly transforming knowledge regimes. We demonstrate vestiges of parenting expertise legitimized during state socialism; illustrate stories of granular expertise visible to mothers and experts, embracing the overflow and multiplicity of parenting experts under neoliberal intensification; and identify the potential of a new familistic framing of expertise by observing aspects of traditionalism refactored into expertise in recent years. This study argues that the characteristics of parenting expertise strongly hinge on cultural contexts and the pace of systemic changes that frame the knowledge regimes therein.

“An Era More than Bleak”

AbstractFerenc Farkas, a remarkable twentieth-century Hungarian composer, was one of the most influential professors of composition throughout the history of the Liszt Academy of Music, Budapest. A less known chapter of his life is his involvement in the ethnicist and anti-Semitic political movements of Hungary, during the late 1930s and early 1940s. In 1940, he was among three musicians who elaborated a proposal to establish, in line with the rise of corporatism, a Hungarian Music Chamber. One of the main aims of the new organization would have been a total exclusion of Jewish musicians from all branches of Hungarian musical culture. The Chamber was never actually founded. In 1941, Farkas left Budapest for the Transylvanian city Kolozsvár (Cluj), where he was appointed professor of composition at the Conservatory. One of his first students was György Ligeti, a native Transylvanian, born into a Hungarian family suffering under the anti-Semitic legislation of the Hungarian state. As Ligeti recollected, Farkas “wanted to teach me everything he had learned from his teacher Ottorino Respighi.” Based on archival sources, this study offers new insights into the personal and professional connection between Ligeti and Farkas during the 1940s, and also follows Farkas's post-war path from relative isolation and marginalization to the elite of state socialist music culture.