Questions on Daniels for Week 9
Disciplining the Intellectuals (April 1929 resolution on philosophy from the 2nd All-Union Conference of Marxist-Leninist Research Institutions)
Did this resolution recognize the possibility that there might be valid ways to approach issues besides the "Marxist-Leninist" approach? Explain.
How does the resolution describe non-Marxist forms of philosophy?
Does the resolution suggest that dialectical materialism is useful only for understanding the social sciences? Explain.
According to the resolution, should the sciences and humanities be non-political? Explain.
According to the resolution, was there more than one way to understand Marxist theory?
What position did this resolution take regarding religion?
The Socialized Economy and Revolutionary Law (Pashukanis, 1930)
According to Pashukanis (one of the main Soviet legal theorists of the 1920s and early 1930s), was the law in socialist society supposed to be "written in stone"? Explain.
The New Educational Policy (Central Committee resolution on schools, 1931)
According to this resolution, in what ways had Soviet schools succeeded?
According to this resolution, what was still wrong with Soviet schools?
Towards what subjects does the resolution call for increased attention?
Is the resolution supportive of educational experimentation? Explain.
Did this resolution approve of progressive policies from the 1920s aimed at the "withering away of the school"? Explain.
Stalin's Social Ideal (Stalin's report to the 17th party Congress, January 1934)
In 1934, did Stalin believe that the move towards a classless society was "spontaneous"? What did he think was needed to build a classless society?
Did Stalin think that socialism meant "equalizing" society? What appears to have been Stalin's "definition" of equality?
The New History (Sovnarkom and CC decree of May 1934)
Did this decree approve of the way history had been taught in the USSR? Explain.
What sort of things did the decree say should be stressed in history courses?
The New Nationalism (Pravda, 9 June 1934)
Was this essay in the official newspaper of the Communist Party internationalist in sentiment? Explain.
Think back to our readings and discussions of the purges and terror. Did this essay in Pravda justify oppression in the name of the Fatherland? Explain.
Socialist Realism (Gorky, "Soviet Literature," 1934)
According to Gorky, what lessons should Soviet literature teach?
What kinds of heroes should writers create? What values should they stress?
Does Gorky suggest that non-political literature is possible? Explain.
Who does Gorky say should be the "watchdog" of Soviet literature?
How was Socialist Realism supposed to depict life? Why?
The New Family Ideal (Pravda editorials from May and June 1936)
According to this editorial, why was it important to prohibit abortion?
In what ways does this editorial support a return to "traditional" conceptions of the family, marriage, and gender roles?
How does this editorial define the duties of a mother? Of a father?
Stalin as Philosopher (Stalin, "Dialectical and Historical Materialism," 1938)
According to Stalin's version of Marxism, where do ideas "come from" and why?
Vyshinsky on the New Law (from The Law of the Soviet State, 1938)
In what ways does Vyshinsky describe the "Stalin Constitution" of 1936?
How does Vyshinsky define the function of law in Soviet society?
Pashukanis had talked about the withering away of the law under socialism--Did Vyshinsky argue that law would wither away? Explain.
Stalin on the State and the Intelligentsia (report to the 18th Party Congress, March 1939)
As the international situation became more and more tense in 1939, did Stalin seem to change his view of the old intelligentsia? Explain!