Gender, Generations, and Communism in Central and Eastern Europe and Beyond

This book provides an alternative framework to describe the communist past by using the concepts of generation and gender in an intersectional overlap. It covers twentieth-century Poland, Czechoslovakia/Czech Republic, the Soviet Union/Russia, former Yugoslavia, Turkish communities in West Germany, Italy, and Cuba, and offers a theoretical frame and overview chapters on important gender and generation narratives about communism, anticommunism, and postcommunism. The main focus is on methodological issues, with studies depicting the possibility of generational-gender interpretations of history, and biographical perspectives informing the third part. The last part shows how the problem of generations and gender is staged via the medium of literature.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 352 pages
Publication date: 01 August 2022
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

Communism in twentieth-century Europe is often portrayed as a totalitarian movement and/or regime, but this book seeks to offer an alternative framework to understand the communist past. By employing the concepts of generation and gender as analytical categories in an intersectional overlap, the publication aims to challenge the dominant narrative. Spanning across twentieth-century Poland, Czechoslovakia/Czech Republic, the Soviet Union/Russia, former Yugoslavia, Turkish communities in West Germany, Italy, and Cuba, the book provides a theoretical framework and overview chapters on various gender and generation narratives related to communism, anticommunism, and postcommunism.

The starting point of this work is the belief that while methodological reflection on communism, generations, and gender is prevalent in contemporary research, the overlap of these three terms remains relatively rare. The first part of the book focuses on methodological issues, while the second part explores the potential for generational-gender interpretations of history. The third part draws from biographical perspectives, and the final part showcases how the problem of generations and gender is staged through literature and how it can be narrated.

By offering a fresh perspective on the communist past, this book aims to contribute to a more nuanced understanding of the complexities and nuances of this historical period. It encourages readers to explore the intersections of gender, generation, and political ideologies and to challenge the assumptions and stereotypes that often accompany these topics.

Weight: 650g
Dimension: 229 x 152 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780367522216