Thirty years from the life of a large country. The evolution of decay

MOSCOW. The history of a large country in the book of the historian Natalia Lebina. Eloquent figures and logical conclusions

Illusions and nostalgia for Soviet times after the book “Soviet everyday life: norms and anomalies. From War Communism to Great Style, as well as the wonderful books Teeth of the Dragon. My 30s ”by Maya Turovskaya and the“ Gulag ”winner of Pulitzer Prize Ann Applebaum does not remain. Many wisdom and knowledge not only increase sorrow and sorrow, but also dispel mirages. Each of the books is a piece of the puzzle, allowing you to get a complete picture of what happened during the period from the October revolution to the middle of the last century. Acquaintance with the history is not malicious for the sake of, but for the future, which is worth entering with a clear, unclouded demagogy consciousness.

The style of presentation of "Soviet everyday life" by Lebina at first resembles a dissertation. A minimum of authorial emotions, compensated by well-aimed quotes, unbiased statistics. The lack of fiction ceases to seem inconsequential from the very first pages. A thorough study of the country’s life over several decades gives an idea of the gradual transformation of public consciousness. About how the inadmissible before became habitual, leading to degradation. Drunkenness, legitimized by paradoxical comments of the powerful, who believed that the craving for alcohol was caused by dissatisfaction with life under the king, was rehabilitated and justified. The revolution, which allowed a better and more fun life, was considered a good reason for regular libations. Drug addiction among the Bolshevik elite, revolutionary sailors who were members of the "morphine club", familiarity with the prohibited means of the broad masses of workers.

The growth of crime, the lack of a legislative base for the proper qualification of illegal actions, the desire primarily to protect the revolutionary order, and not ordinary people, conniving attitude to petty criminal elements. Another paradox of power: the pre-revolutionary punks were outrageous, protesting against the injustices of their previous lives. Base instincts and aggression were fueled by slogans and songs praising lawlessness against NEPMans, petty merchants, other bourgeois and the legitimacy of depriving them of their lives. The inviolability of private property and housing was considered nonsense. Expropriation, seals, evictions, and the predatory sharing of someone else’s housing became the norm. Suicidal sentiment and negative statistics in this area accompanied the growing stratification of both societies and the onset of political repression.

Along with global issues - a detailed story about the life, private life and leisure of Soviet people, their attitude to religion, gender relations. Without this part to complete the important and difficult conversation about the past, the study would be incomplete.

Elena Tanakova © Gallerix.ru