Soviet Politics, Society, and Culture

Introduction 

Under the leadership of Joseph Stalin, the Soviet Union experienced what would later be described as the Great Purge or the Great Terror touching on issues associated with his dictatorship. Although it can be argued that Stalin focused more on the idea of transforming Russia into an industrial country, it is equally important to take note of the fact that his leadership brought about important issues for the Russians. Lydia Chukovskaya and John Scott, who wrote the books “Sofia Petrovna” and “Behind the Urals: An American Worker in Russia's City of Steel" respectively, projected different takes of life touching on the period during the Great Purge. The focus for this report is to evaluate the differentiated catches between these two authors, as well as, reflect in the catch of life from the perspective of the ordinary Russians as a way of understanding their view on the purge.

Lydia Chukovskaya’s Take on Life 

Through her book “Sofia Petrovna,” Chukovskaia (1965) presents her take on life touching on issues associated with dictatorship during the 1930s under the leadership of Joseph Stalin. Sofia Petrovna is a doctor's widow living in the Soviet Union and works as a typist. The first notable aspect of Sofia is that she is proud of the achievements of her son who is an engineering student. The promising career of her son gave her hope during this period where the region faced some challenges associated with issues such as a dictatorship.

During the beginning of the great purge in this decade, there was the aspect of torture and false accusations that led to the arrests of members of the society. Sofia experienced vanishing of her co-workers with the allegations of betrayal and the arrest of her son Kolya. The series of happenings brought a cynical take on life during this era considering there was unfair treatment in the society at different levels. The issue of criticism during this era was a significant concern where individuals received negative criticism upon their quest to find out various factors affecting the society. Sofia and her friend receive negative criticism in their quest to find out more about the issue of vanishing people.

Natasha experiences humiliation where she is fired from her workplace in a situation where she makes an error that is mistaken for criticizing the red army. Another critical aspect brought about during this period entails the issue of hopelessness in the society. Upon losing her job and being hopeless, Natasha commits suicide and her friend, Sofia is also fired considering her attempts to defend her friend. The desperate situation results in a case where Sofia immerses on the fantasies of her son. The aspect of desperation is considered a major issue during this period were members of the society seek to find freedom despite the dictatorship and the negative criticism experienced.

John Scott’s Take on Life 

On the other hand, Scott (1942), in his book “Behind the Urals: An American Worker in Russia's City of Steel" reflects on the story of an individual, who studied welding in America with the focus being towards moving to the Soviet Union with the center being to get a job. The individual arrives in Magnitogorsk in 1932 during which time the country was going through the Great Purge from where he was faced with numerous impossibilities.

Scott (1942) reflects on the fact that although the Soviet Union projects a significant lack of opportunities, he did not lose the urge allowing him to want to create a better life for himself and for the society as a whole reflecting on his ability to challenge the impossibilities. From that perspective, it is clear that John Scott reflects on a take of life that is somewhat positive regardless of the existing challenges concerning the general outlook of the situation with the Soviet Union.

It can be seen that Chukovskaia (1965) builds on the understanding that indeed the Soviet Union was going through a phase that can be described as being horrendous attributed to issues associated with famine and poor living conditions. However, he can work through these impossibilities with the focus being towards creating a positive life for him and his family. The outcome of this is that he was able to achieve an improvement in his living conditions taking into account that he was able to a balance of enthusiasm and devotion reflecting on the overall possibilities of success. The outcome of this can be seen from the position that Scott's understanding of life builds on a progressive avenue from which to understand the nature of challenges in the country.

Reconciliation of the Different Takes 

On the question of whether it is possible to reconcile the different takes from the two authors, as have been discussed in the previous sections, it can be argued that indeed it is possible to combine the takes. From the discussions touching on the catches from the two authors, it is clear that the authors present different takes on life during the Great Purge in the Soviet Union. The reconciliation of the takes will reflect more on the fact that although the authors present differentiated views, it is clear that they all seek to highlight that lived during that period was not favorable for the people living in the Soviet Union.

As can be seen from the lake, as presented by John Scott, the move to the Soviet Union brought to the floor several significant challenges, which he describes as numerous impossibilities. He reviews the difficulties to touch on issues such as famine, incredibly lousy living conditions for the people, as well as, other problems including unlawful arrests among others. From that perspective, it is clear that the conditions are somewhat similar when compared to the taking, as has been presented by Lydia Chukovskaya.

Additionally, the reconciliation can be seen from an angle where although the country was facing the Great Purge, this was paving the way of better opportunities, as Joseph Stalin focused more on his attention towards promoting industrialization. In both books, the authors reflect on existing opportunities in the country although the country was facing key issues touching on areas such as dictatorship from the current leadership. The authors reflect on the fact that although the country is facing critical issues, it is equally important to take note of the existing opportunities.

Life During the Industrialization Drive and the Great Purges 

In both stories, it can be seen that life during the industrialization drive and the Great Purges was not as easy as may be expected for the Russians taking into the nature of leadership during that period. Firstly, the Soviet Union was facing a significant risk on issues such as unlawful arrests and disappearances considering that Joseph Stalin used these as tools towards eliminating dissenting members within the Communist Party. Chukovskaia (1965) projects the story of Sophia whose son has been arrested by the Soviet Union government during the Great Purge. Although Sophia takes proactive steps towards ensuring the release of her son, she is faced with numerous challenges including issues lines in government buildings among others that hampered her efforts.

From that view, it is clear that the issue of unlawful arrest was a vital issue of concern for the people in the Soviet Union attributed to the high risk for the arrest of the people for no apparent reason. Secondly, life during that period was somewhat challenging for the people considering that the country was facing a severe shortage of food instigated under the leadership of Joseph Stalin. Scott (1942) builds up the projection of the Soviet Union after his arrival from the perspective that famine was one of the notable impossibilities that could be seen from the country.

It is clear that majority of the people in the Soviet Union during that period were not able to get adequate food taking into account that Joseph Stalin used this as a tool from which to change the political and social environment for the people in the country. That seems to suggest that indeed the country was facing on the highest forms of dictatorship, thus, leading to the view that indeed Stalin was a dictator. Thirdly, life during this particular period projected cases of arbitrary executions with modern historians estimating that the Stalin government killed between 950,000 and 1.2 million people.

In her story, Sophia can be seen as developing worry for her son due to her view from the fact that if he were found guilty, that would mean that he would be executed (Chukovskaia, 1965). From that perspective, it is clear that the issue of execution remained as one of the notable threats that the people were facing, thus, building on a progressive avenue from which people were scared of having to criticize the government. One of Sophia's friends, Natasha, who also works as a typist, was relieved of her duty as a typist because he made a typographical error, which was translated to mean criticism against the Red Army, resulting in her dismissal.

Thus, this seems to suggest that the Russian people, during that period, were not expected to show any form of criticism towards the government, as this would amount to cause for execution. Scott (1942) also reflects on the issue of brutality from government officers, which also served as one of the critical issues that sought to suggest the overall possibilities of a dictatorship type of life. The analysis of the kind of life indicates that majority of the people living within the Soviet Union during that period faced last issues surrounding the position on lack of respect for their rights and freedoms.

Understanding of the Ordinary Russians 

From the perspective of ordinary Russians, the Great purge can be seen from the view that it only contributed to significant issues explicitly touching on the fact that the ordinary Russians were the most affected. Most people viewed this as a form of dictatorship focusing on the leadership of Joseph Stalin considering that their rights and freedoms were violated in significant ways by the government. Thus, this meant that most of the people viewed this as a vital issue of concern for the society reflecting on the fact that they suffered significantly due the occurrence of the purge.

In his view, Joseph Stalin focused more on trying to force the idea of industrialization while reflecting on the possibility that it would be of benefit for the Russian economy from a long-term perspective. However, most of the Russians did not view it from this perspective, as they considered his actions as being inhumane taking into account that he did not consider dissenting views. From that perspective, it can be argued that most of the ordinary Russians viewed this as one of the most challenging periods attributed to the underlying impacts that it had on them.

In the question on whether the ordinary Russians were beneficiaries or victims, it can be argued that most of the ordinary Russians were victims considering that the oppression from the part of the government contributed to a situation where it was difficult for the people to lead positive lives. The Russians can also be considered as victims, as the government violated their rights and freedoms with little or no consideration of the expectation towards building on the expected avenue for the protection of the people. Instead, the government, under the leadership of Joseph Stalin, created an environment where the ordinary Russians were not allowed to criticize the government in any way, as this would act as an avenue from which to build on the possibility of execution.

Influence of Purge Atmosphere 

The great purge created an atmosphere that influenced various aspects relating to the wellness of the society. One of the critical elements to consider regarding the impact of the great eradication on the economic, social, psychological, and political aspects in the society. The purge atmosphere influenced both the workplaces and the private spheres considering the economic impact experienced during this period. In the workplaces, there was an increase in production where the majority of the workers who failed to meet the set targets were sent to gulags. This aspect resulted in a significant impact on the workplaces considering the goals set were very high that majority of the workers could not achieve. The workplaces in Russia during this period experienced loss of skilled workforce considering that majority of the workers feared to be sent to gulags due to failure to achieve targets.

The influence of the purge atmosphere on the workplaces was attributed to the political impact of the great purge where Stalin got rid of the opposition in a bid to rise and secure his powers due to the fear of facing criticism based on various aspects relating to the society. This made him a supreme leader who did not make any form of consultations regarding critical decisions relating to the financial and social development of the members of the society. On the other hand, the purge atmosphere influenced the private sphere that included home and family life. The psychological effect created the fear of the spread of purge thus affecting individuals in the family setting to do anything possible to survive and meet the set targets to retain their employment.

In this case, people become more unreliable and less concerned about their actions considering their focus was to earn a form of living despite the dictatorship that influenced their livelihoods in the society. The purge atmosphere influenced day-to-day activities of the members of the community who relied on the government to enhance the economic, political, and social elements in the society. The political impact of the atmosphere created chaos and instabilities influenced how people interacted in the society based on their everyday activities. On the other hand, the social and psychological impact affected positive interaction considering the fear and humiliation instilled regarding workplace experiences and meeting of the set targets for each employee. Lack of the opposition during this time created a situation where there was no questioning of the decision regarding the use of power and resources in the society.

Conclusion 

In summary, the Soviet Union experienced what would later be described as the Great Purge or the Great Terror touching on issues associated with his dictatorship. From the discussions touching on the takes from the two authors, it is clear that the authors present different takes on life during the Great Purge in the Soviet Union. In both books, the authors reflect on existing opportunities in the country although the country was facing key issues touching on areas such as dictatorship from the current leadership. The analysis of the kind of life suggests that majority of the people living within the Soviet Union during that period faced last issues surrounding the position on lack of respect for their rights and freedoms.

References

Chukovskaia, L. (1965). Sofia Petrovna, trans. Aline Werth. London, UK: Northwestern University Press.

Scott, J. (1942).  Behind the Urals: An American Worker in Russia's City of Steel . Indiana, IND: Indiana University Press.