East Central Europe and Communism: Politics, Culture, and Society, 1943-1991

East Central Europe's communists promised equality, industry, and socialist ideals but failed to achieve gender equality, rely on credits, and instrumentalize the arts. They planned and controlled politics, economy, media, information, religious organizations, culture, and women's promotion, leading to unintended consequences and dysfunctions.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 338 pages
Publication date: 16 March 2023
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

The communists of East Central Europe rose to power with a vision of creating genuine equality, particularly focusing on achieving gender equality. They aimed to build up industries and establish prosperous societies, utilizing music, art, and literature to promote socialist ideals. However, their promises fell short in several key areas. Despite their efforts to increase the representation of women in their legislatures, they were only able to fill a third of their seats. Furthermore, they faced significant challenges in challenging entrenched patriarchal views, which hindered their progress in promoting gender equality.

To address these challenges, the communists resorted to relying heavily on credits to stimulate their economies. While this approach initially seemed promising, it ultimately led to financial instability and bankruptcy in many countries. The instrumentalization of the arts, another key aspect of their agenda, faced resistance and setbacks in most regions by the mid-1950s. In Yugoslavia, this effort was abandoned as early as 1949.

Communism was characterized by a strong emphasis on planning, control, and politicization. The communists sought to control not only politics and the economy but also various aspects of society, including the media, information, religious organizations, culture, and the promotion of women. They viewed women's participation in the workforce as a crucial component of achieving gender equality. Inspired by the functionalist theory of Robert K. Merton, this book explores how communist policies were undermined by unintended consequences and outright dysfunctions. It sheds light on how communist regimes struggled to implement their vision of a socialist society and how their policies often had unintended consequences that contradicted their stated goals.

The book also examines the role of ideology in shaping communist policies and how it influenced the treatment of women and other marginalized groups. It highlights the contradictions and inconsistencies within communist ideology, which often led to policies that were at odds with the principles of equality and social justice. By examining the history of communist East Central Europe, this book provides valuable insights into the complexities of political power, social change, and the challenges of achieving gender equality in a society dominated by authoritarianism.

Weight: 662g
Dimension: 234 x 156 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781032318202