Stalin’s Constitution (Open Access)

Soviet Participatory Politics and the Discussion of the 1936 Draft Constitution

Nonfiction, History, Asian, Russia
Cover of the book Stalin’s Constitution (Open Access) by Samantha Lomb, Taylor and Francis
View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart
Author: Samantha Lomb ISBN: 9781351759830
Publisher: Taylor and Francis Publication: November 9, 2017
Imprint: Routledge Language: English
Author: Samantha Lomb
ISBN: 9781351759830
Publisher: Taylor and Francis
Publication: November 9, 2017
Imprint: Routledge
Language: English

Upon its adoption in December 1936, Soviet leaders hailed the new so-called Stalin Constitution as the most democratic in the world. Scholars have long scoffed at this claim, noting that the mass repression of 1937–1938 that followed rendered it a hollow document. This study does not address these competing claims, but rather focuses on the six-month long popular discussion of the draft Constitution, which preceded its formal adoption in December 1936. Drawing on rich archival sources,this book uses the discussion of the draft 1936 Constitution to examine discourse between the central state leadership and citizens about the new Soviet social contract, which delineated the roles the state and citizens should play in developing socialism. For the central leadership, mobilizing its citizenry in a variety of state building campaigns was the main goal of the discussion of the draft Constitution. However, the goals of the central leadership at times stood in stark contrast with the people’s expressed interpretation of that social contract. Citizens of the USSR focused on securing rights and privileges, often related to improving their daily lives, from the central government.

The Open Access version of this book, available at https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315194004, has been made available under a Creative Commons Attribution-Non Commercial-No Derivatives 4.0 license.

View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart

Upon its adoption in December 1936, Soviet leaders hailed the new so-called Stalin Constitution as the most democratic in the world. Scholars have long scoffed at this claim, noting that the mass repression of 1937–1938 that followed rendered it a hollow document. This study does not address these competing claims, but rather focuses on the six-month long popular discussion of the draft Constitution, which preceded its formal adoption in December 1936. Drawing on rich archival sources,this book uses the discussion of the draft 1936 Constitution to examine discourse between the central state leadership and citizens about the new Soviet social contract, which delineated the roles the state and citizens should play in developing socialism. For the central leadership, mobilizing its citizenry in a variety of state building campaigns was the main goal of the discussion of the draft Constitution. However, the goals of the central leadership at times stood in stark contrast with the people’s expressed interpretation of that social contract. Citizens of the USSR focused on securing rights and privileges, often related to improving their daily lives, from the central government.

The Open Access version of this book, available at https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315194004, has been made available under a Creative Commons Attribution-Non Commercial-No Derivatives 4.0 license.

More books from Taylor and Francis

Cover of the book The TV Showrunner's Roadmap by Samantha Lomb
Cover of the book The Online Educator by Samantha Lomb
Cover of the book Teaching for Diversity and Social Justice by Samantha Lomb
Cover of the book Governments and Tourism by Samantha Lomb
Cover of the book Democracy as Public Deliberation by Samantha Lomb
Cover of the book The Trinity and Theodicy by Samantha Lomb
Cover of the book Portuguese Encounters with Sri Lanka and the Maldives by Samantha Lomb
Cover of the book Engaging the Senses: Object-Based Learning in Higher Education by Samantha Lomb
Cover of the book Emotions by Samantha Lomb
Cover of the book Postmodernity, Ethics and the Novel by Samantha Lomb
Cover of the book The Idea of Social Structure by Samantha Lomb
Cover of the book Japan's Politics and Economy by Samantha Lomb
Cover of the book Renaissance Food from Rabelais to Shakespeare by Samantha Lomb
Cover of the book The Greek World by Samantha Lomb
Cover of the book The Arms Dynamic in South-East Asia During the Second Cold War by Samantha Lomb
We use our own "cookies" and third party cookies to improve services and to see statistical information. By using this website, you agree to our Privacy Policy