Popular Opinion in Stalin's Russia
Terror, Propaganda and Dissent, 1934–1941

This book is a study of how ordinary Russians experienced life during the 'Great Terror' between 1934 and 1941.

Sarah Davies (Author)

9780521566766, Cambridge University Press

Paperback, published 2 October 1997

260 pages, 4 tables
22.9 x 15.2 x 1.5 cm, 0.39 kg

'… the book provides some fascinating information about the impact of certain policies at grass-roots level.' Contemporary European History

Between 1934 and 1941 Stalin unleashed what came to be known as the 'Great Terror' against millions of Soviet citizens. The same period also saw the 'Great Retreat', the repudiation of many of the aspirations of the Russian Revolution. The response of ordinary Russians to the extraordinary events of this time has been obscure. Sarah Davies's study uses NKVD and party reports, letters and other evidence to show that, despite propaganda and repression, dissonant public opinion was not extinguished. The people continued to criticise Stalin and the Soviet regime, and complain about particular policies. The book examines many themes, including attitudes towards social and economic policy, the terror, and the leader cult, shedding light on a hugely important part of Russia's social, political, and cultural history.

Part I. Introduction: Economy and Society: 1. Workers, the economy and labour policy
2. Peasants and the kolkhoz
3. Women, family policy, education
4. Religion and the nationalities question
Part II. Politics and Terror: 5. International relations
6. The constitution and elections
7. The Great Terror
8. 'Us' and 'Them': social identity and terror
Part III. The Leader Cult: 9. The cult in official discourse
10. Affirmative representations of the leader and leader cult
11. Negative representations of the leader and leader cult
Conclusion.

Subject Areas: 20th century history: c 1900 to c 2000 [HBLW], European history [HBJD]