Originally published in French by Publications de la Sorbonne. Includes bibliographical references (pages 303]-315) and index.
Contents:
1. In the Land Where Tomorrow Was Already Yesterday -- 2. The Lord's Day, the Worker's Day -- 3. Constructing the Idea of the Common Good -- 4. Complaining, Talking about Yourself -- 5. 'One Day, Our Streets Will Be a Festival!' -- Conclusion.
Summary:
Across Central and Eastern Europe after World War II, the newly established communist regimes promised a drastic social revolution that would transform the world at great pace and pave the way to a socialist future. Although many aspects of this utopian project are well known--fast-paced industrialization, collectivisation and urbanisation--the regimes even sought to transform the ways in which their citizens interacted with each other and the world around them. Using a unique analytical model based on anthropology, sociology, history and extensive archival research, award-winning scholar Roman Krakovsky considers the Czechoslovakian attempt to 'reinvent the world'--in this all-encompassing way. Ranging from World War II to the fall of the Berlin Wall, his innovative analysis considers the impact of Stakhanovism, the impossible-to-achieve production targets intended to assert socialism's future potential; the attempt to replace Sunday's Christian attributes with socialist ones; and the profound changes brought about to the public and private spheres, including the culture of informing and the ways this was circumvented. Across a wide range of case studies Krakovsky demonstrates both the far-reaching extent of the communist vision and the inherent flaws and contradications that gradually destabilised it. This in-depth perspective is vital reading for all scholars of twentieth-century history and politics.--Page [4] of cover.
Series:
International library of twentieth century history ; 104
This resource is supported by the Institute of Museum and Library Services under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act as administered by State Library of Iowa.