Perceptions of society in communist Europe : regime archives and popular opinion / edited by Muriel Blaive.

Format:

Book

Contributor:

Blaive, Muriel, 1969- editor.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Politics and government.

Social conditions.

Public opinion.

Communist countries--Social conditions--20th century.

Communist countries.

Communist countries--Politics and government--20th century.

Public opinion--Communist countries.

Europe, Eastern--Social conditions--20th century.

Europe, Eastern.

Europe, Eastern--Politics and government--1945-1989.

Eastern Europe.

Europe, Central--Social conditions--20th century.

Europe, Central.

Europe, Central--Politics and government--20th century.

Central Europe.

Physical Description:

x, 248 pages ; 25 cm

Place of Publication:

London, UK ; New York, NY, USA : Bloomsbury Academic, Bloomsbury Publishing Plc, 2019.

Summary:

"Drawing on archival sources from Czechoslovakia, Poland, East Germany, Romania and Bulgaria, Perceptions of Society in Communist Europe considers whether and to what extent communist regimes cared about popular opinion, how they obtained their information, and how it helped them implement and maintain their rule. Contrary to popular belief, communist regimes sought to legitimise their domination with minimal resort to violence in order to maintain their everyday power. This entailed a permanent negotiation process between the rulers and the ruled, with public approval of governmental policies becoming key to their success. By analysing topics such as a Stalinist musical in Czechoslovakia, workers' letters to the leadership in Romania, children's television in Poland and the figure of the secret agent in contemporary culture, as well as many more besides, Muriel Blaive and the contributors demonstrate the potential of social history to deconstruct parochial national perceptions of communism. This cutting-edge volume is a vital resource for academics, postgraduates and advanced undergraduates studying East-Central European history, Stalinism and comparative communism"-- Provided by publisher.

Contents:

Introduction / Muriel Blaive

Part 1. From post-war to Stalinism. Secret agents : reassessing the agency of radio listeners in Czechoslovakia (1945-1953) / Rosamund Johnston

Practices of distance and perceptions of proximity : trade union delegates and everyday politics in post-second World War Romania / Adrian Grama

A case study of power practices : the Czechoslovak Stalinist elite at the regional level (1948-1951) / Marián Lóži

Policing the police : the 'instructor group' and the Stalinization of the Czechoslovak secret police (1948-1951) / Molly Pucci

Part 2. From Stalinism to real existing socialism. Constructive complaints and socialist subversion in Stalinist Czechoslovakia : E.F. Burian's Scandal in the picture gallery / Shawn Clybor

Perceptions of society in Czechoslovak secret police archives : how a 'Czechoslovak 1956' was thwarted / Muriel Blaive

Crises and the creation of institutions for assessing popular consumption preferences in communist Bulgaria (1953-1970) / Martin K. Dimitrov

Who is afraid of whom? : the case of the 'loyal dissidents' in the German Democratic Republic / Sonia Combe

Part 3. From real existing socialism to the end

and beyond. Did communist children's television communicate universal values? : representing borders in the Polish series Four Tank-men and a Dog / Machteld Venken

Between censorship and scholarship : the editorial board of the Czechoslovak Academy of Sciences (1969-1989) / Libora Oates-Indruchová

'How many days have the comrades' wives spent in a queue?' : appealing to the Ceaușescus in late-socialist Romania / Jill Massino

Authenticating the past : archives, secret police and heroism in contemporary Czech representations of socialism / Veronika Pehe.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references (pages 223-238) and index.

Other Format:

Online version: Perceptions of society in communist Europe.

ISBN:

9781350051713

1350051713

OCLC:

1044769126