[Discussion] CfP: New Perspectives on Sovietisation and Modernity in Central and Eastern Europe 1945-1964
Onur Inal
oinal@ku.edu.tr
Sat, 5 Mar 2005 23:48:53 +0200
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New Perspectives on Sovietisation and Modernity in Central and Eastern =
Europe 1945-1964
Conference Begins: 2005-05-26
Joint workshop of the Department of History and Civilization, European =
University Institute, Florence, and Pasts Inc., Centre for Historical =
Studies, Central European University, Budapest=20
Florence, 26-27 May -- Budapest, 17-18 June 2005
The great transformation of politics, society and culture that took =
place after 1945 in Central and Eastern Europe, usually labelled as =
Sovietisation, occupies a focal position in current debates concerning =
the recent history of the region. Historians as well as =
politicians,journalists and other actors of social memory have been =
engaged in a heated debate concerning the characteristics of these =
changes. A wide spectrum of questions have been raised in these debates, =
concerning the nature and main characteristic of the process. What were =
the main aspects of the transformation: the changes in the political =
system and state organisation, the re-structuring of societies or the =
homogenisation of cultural production? Who were the dominant agents in =
the process: Soviet party commissars assisted by covert operations of =
the NKVD, native communists or non-Marxist supporters of the =
modernisation programme? What was the principal impelling force of the =
alterations: Soviet political interest,communist power politics, =
international situation, the societies' desire for a change or chance?
Did the political culture of the respective countries provide a =
background that fostered the acceptance of the changes?
The workshop will also address the problematic relation of the =
modernisation project to postwar Sovietisation. Did the Soviet =
alternative mean a challenge to traditional perceptions of =
modernisation? Was the Sovietisation process accompanied by a clash of =
different perceptions of modernity? Did Soviet-type societies achieve a =
reconciliation of diverse modernity concepts? In general, did the Soviet =
perception of modernity reflect a distinct
understanding, or a radical =ECdeviation=EE from the Western ideas of =
how the modernisation project should proceed? Was the Soviet idea of =
competing with the West in terms of technological achievements an =
indication of the alleged distinctiveness of modernity concepts? Can a =
political regime that left behind environmental catastrophe, =
non-functioning industry and inefficient agriculture, that seriously =
hindered social mobility and the formation of an autonomous middle-class =
be classified modern?
However, it would be misleading to restrict the investigation and claim =
that the process of Sovietisation concerned exclusively Central and =
Eastern Europe. 'Sovietisation' is a concept that could entail a broad =
all-European perspective. It is true partly due to the fact that =
Soviet-type regimes observed jealously and suspiciously the Western =
democracies and a considerable proportion of Eastern European processes =
and measures were implemented as a response to alleged Western =
developments. At the same time, however, 'Sovietisation' refers to and =
incorporates also the debates among leftists Western intellectuals =
concerning the future and nature of capitalism and its critique. The =
appeal of Soviet-type socialism was great mainly in French and Italian =
radical leftist thinkers and led to heated debates concerning Western =
socialism and communism. Developments of Central and Eastern European =
"people's democracies" influenced to a considerable extent British and =
American Marxism, as well. The crisis of Eastern communism in the =
mid-1950s resulted in a radical rupture and troubles of identification =
within the Western left-wing movement. A workshop devoted to =
Sovietisation, consequently, has to take into consideration the critique =
of classical Sovietology and the attempts to re-asses Western concepts =
of 'Soviet'.=20
Various aspects of the Sovietisation process in post-war Central and =
Eastern Europe has been in the focus of scholarly attention -- both =
inside and outside the region =F1 in the previous decades. Although =
these studies provided a significant contribution to our understanding =
of the mechanism, and the nature of changes that took place, several =
aspects of the project has been overlooked as yet. The workshop thus =
aims to assess the insofar neglected aspects of Sovietisation, with the =
intention of formulating a new synthesis of the process.
Themes to be covered at the workshop will include:
1. Theories and conceptualizations of the 'Soviet' in the West and =
in the East.
2. The relationship of politics, Sovietisation and modernisation, =
with regard to the construction of the regimes of control, and the =
implementation of new techniques of exercising power.
3. The ideas of Soviet modernisation, as manifested in industrial =
development and investment projects.
4. The relation of consumerism, material culture, and technological =
modernisation to the process of Sovietisation.
5. The Sovietisation of space (urban planning, memorials, and =
architecture), that also encompassed a a radical shift in the balance of =
private and public spheres.
6. The Sovietisation of culture and cultural production, including =
the nationalisation of cultural institutions, and the transformation of =
stylistic paradigms, with special emphasis on the field of literature, =
cinema, fine arts, and music. The Sovietisation of education and =
science, with respect to the alteration of institutional structure and =
teaching materials(schoolbooks), as well as sports culture, that also =
fostered the political socialisation of respective societies. =
Presentations may also include scrutinies of the Sovietisation of legal =
culture and legal institutions.=20
7. The Sovietisation of media.
8. The Sovietisation of political rituals, that entailed the =
transformation of mass demonstrations, and the grandiose effort to adapt =
Soviet-type leader cults to local conditions.
9. The =ECreinvention=EE of national traditions, through the =
transformation of political culture, mythologies, and traditional belief =
systems, and the formulation of a new historical canon, alongside with a =
radical reinterpretation of the nation=EDs history.
10. The Sovietisation of political language, which encompassed the =
radical transformation, or militarisation, of vocabulary, due to the =
introduction of new concepts and the substantial changes of old =
meanings, and also involved the implementation of new discourses, =
including the Stalinist =ECgreat family=EE discourse, and the discourses =
of 'friendship' and leader cult.
The seminar hopes to provide an opportunity for researchers of the =
region, and in Western Europe to exchange their ideas, and would thus =
like to promote an international dialogue on the subject. The workshop =
also aims to set up a forum for the encounter of various researchers and =
various approaches.
Conveners:
Prof. Arfon Rees (EUI)
Prof. Sorin Antohi (CEU)
Bal=B7zs Apor (EUI)
P=C8ter Apor (CEU, Pasts Inc.)
Email: balazs.apor@iue.it
Website at
http://www.iue.it/HEC/ResearchTeaching/20042005-Spring/ws-rees-26-27-may.=
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<DIV align=3Djustify><FONT face=3DSylfaen><STRONG>New Perspectives on =
Sovietisation=20
and Modernity in Central and Eastern Europe 1945-1964<BR><BR>Conference =
Begins:=20
2005-05-26</STRONG><BR><BR>Joint workshop of the Department of History =
and=20
Civilization, European University Institute, Florence, and Pasts Inc., =
Centre=20
for Historical Studies, Central European University, Budapest =
</FONT></DIV>
<DIV align=3Djustify><FONT face=3DSylfaen>Florence, 26-27 May -- =
Budapest, 17-18=20
June 2005<BR><BR>The great transformation of politics, society and =
culture that=20
took place after 1945 in Central and Eastern Europe, usually labelled as =
Sovietisation, occupies a focal position in current debates concerning =
the=20
recent history of the region. Historians as well as =
politicians,journalists and=20
other actors of social memory have been engaged in a heated debate =
concerning=20
the characteristics of these changes. A wide spectrum of questions have =
been=20
raised in these debates, concerning the nature and main characteristic =
of the=20
process. What were the main aspects of the transformation: the changes =
in the=20
political system and state organisation, the re-structuring of societies =
or the=20
homogenisation of cultural production? Who were the dominant agents in =
the=20
process: Soviet party commissars assisted by covert operations of the =
NKVD,=20
native communists or non-Marxist supporters of the modernisation =
programme? What=20
was the principal impelling force of the alterations: Soviet political=20
interest,communist power politics, international situation, the =
societies'=20
desire for a change or chance?<BR><BR>Did the political culture of the=20
respective countries provide a background that fostered the acceptance =
of the=20
changes?<BR><BR>The workshop will also address the problematic relation =
of the=20
modernisation project to postwar Sovietisation. Did the Soviet =
alternative mean=20
a challenge to traditional perceptions of modernisation? Was the =
Sovietisation=20
process accompanied by a clash of different perceptions of modernity? =
Did=20
Soviet-type societies achieve a reconciliation of diverse modernity =
concepts? In=20
general, did the Soviet perception of modernity reflect a=20
distinct<BR>understanding, or a radical =ECdeviation=EE from the Western =
ideas of=20
how the modernisation project should proceed? Was the Soviet idea of =
competing=20
with the West in terms of technological achievements an indication of =
the=20
alleged distinctiveness of modernity concepts? Can a political regime =
that left=20
behind environmental catastrophe, non-functioning industry and =
inefficient=20
agriculture, that seriously hindered social mobility and the formation =
of an=20
autonomous middle-class be classified modern?<BR><BR>However, it would =
be=20
misleading to restrict the investigation and claim that the process of=20
Sovietisation concerned exclusively Central and Eastern Europe. =
'Sovietisation'=20
is a concept that could entail a broad all-European perspective. It is =
true=20
partly due to the fact that Soviet-type regimes observed jealously and=20
suspiciously the Western democracies and a considerable proportion of =
Eastern=20
European processes and measures were implemented as a response to =
alleged=20
Western developments. At the same time, however, 'Sovietisation' refers =
to and=20
incorporates also the debates among leftists Western intellectuals =
concerning=20
the future and nature of capitalism and its critique. The appeal of =
Soviet-type=20
socialism was great mainly in French and Italian radical leftist =
thinkers and=20
led to heated debates concerning Western socialism and communism. =
Developments=20
of Central and Eastern European "people's democracies" influenced to a=20
considerable extent British and American Marxism, as well. The crisis of =
Eastern=20
communism in the mid-1950s resulted in a radical rupture and troubles of =
identification within the Western left-wing movement. A workshop devoted =
to=20
Sovietisation, consequently, has to take into consideration the critique =
of=20
classical Sovietology and the attempts to re-asses Western concepts of =
'Soviet'.=20
</FONT></DIV>
<DIV align=3Djustify><FONT face=3DSylfaen></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV align=3Djustify><FONT face=3DSylfaen>Various aspects of the =
Sovietisation=20
process in post-war Central and Eastern Europe has been in the focus of=20
scholarly attention -- both inside and outside the region =F1 in the =
previous=20
decades. Although these studies provided a significant contribution to =
our=20
understanding of the mechanism, and the nature of changes that took =
place,=20
several aspects of the project has been overlooked as yet. The workshop =
thus=20
aims to assess the insofar neglected aspects of Sovietisation, with the=20
intention of formulating a new synthesis of the process.<BR><BR>Themes =
to be=20
covered at the workshop will include:<BR><BR> 1. =
Theories and=20
conceptualizations of the 'Soviet' in the West and in=20
the East.<BR> 2. The relationship of politics,=20
Sovietisation and modernisation, with regard to the construction of =
the=20
regimes of control, and the =20
implementation of new techniques of exercising =
power.<BR> 3.=20
The ideas of Soviet modernisation, as manifested in =
industrial development=20
and investment projects.<BR> 4. The relation of =
consumerism,=20
material culture, and technological modernisation to the process of =
Sovietisation.<BR> 5. The Sovietisation of space =
(urban=20
planning, memorials, and architecture), that also encompassed a a =
radical=20
shift in the balance of private and public =
spheres.<BR> =20
6. The Sovietisation of culture and cultural production, including=20
the nationalisation of cultural institutions, and the =
transformation=20
of stylistic paradigms, with special emphasis on the field of=20
literature, cinema, fine arts, and music. The Sovietisation of =
education=20
and science, with respect to the alteration of institutional =
structure=20
and teaching materials(schoolbooks), as well as sports culture, =
that=20
also fostered the political socialisation of respective=20
societies. Presentations may also include scrutinies of the =
Sovietisation=20
of legal culture and legal institutions. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV align=3Djustify><FONT face=3DSylfaen> 7. The =
Sovietisation of=20
media.<BR> 8. The Sovietisation of political rituals, =
that=20
entailed the transformation of mass demonstrations, and the =
grandiose=20
effort to adapt Soviet-type leader cults to local=20
conditions.<BR> 9. The =ECreinvention=EE of national =
traditions,=20
through the transformation of political culture, mythologies, and=20
traditional belief systems, and the formulation of a new historical =
canon,=20
alongside with a radical reinterpretation of the nation=EDs=20
history.<BR> 10. The Sovietisation of political language, =
which=20
encompassed the radical transformation, or militarisation, of =
vocabulary,=20
due to the introduction of new =
concepts and the substantial changes of old meanings, and also =
involved the=20
implementation of new discourses, including the Stalinist =ECgreat =
family=EE=20
discourse, and the discourses of 'friendship' and leader =
cult.<BR><BR>The=20
seminar hopes to provide an opportunity for researchers of the region, =
and in=20
Western Europe to exchange their ideas, and would thus like to promote =
an=20
international dialogue on the subject. The workshop also aims to set up =
a forum=20
for the encounter of various researchers and various=20
approaches.<BR><BR>Conveners:<BR>Prof. Arfon Rees (EUI)<BR>Prof. Sorin =
Antohi=20
(CEU)<BR>Bal=B7zs Apor (EUI)<BR>P=C8ter Apor (CEU, Pasts =
Inc.)<BR><BR><BR>Email:=20
</FONT><A href=3D"mailto:balazs.apor@iue.it"><FONT=20
face=3DSylfaen>balazs.apor@iue.it</FONT></A><BR><FONT =
face=3DSylfaen>Website=20
at<BR></FONT><A=20
href=3D"http://www.iue.it/HEC/ResearchTeaching/20042005-Spring/ws-rees-26=
-27-may.pdf"><FONT=20
face=3DSylfaen>http://www.iue.it/HEC/ResearchTeaching/20042005-Spring/ws-=
rees-26-27-may.pdf</FONT></A><BR></DIV></BODY></HTML>
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