Gleaning for Communism: The Soviet Socialist Household in Theory and Practice

Gleaning for Communism is a historical ethnography that explores the property regime that Soviet legal scholars legislated as a household with guaranteed rights to a commons of socialist property. It traces the collectivist ethical logic that was central to this socialist household economy, from its Stalin-era inception to Khrushchev's foregrounding of communist ethics and Gorbachev's perestroika.

Format: Hardback
Length: 210 pages
Publication date: 15 July 2023
Publisher: Cornell University Press

Gleaning for Communism is a comprehensive historical ethnography that delves into the property regime that shaped the Soviet legal scholars' vision of a modern state as a household, where individuals were guaranteed rights to a commons of socialist property rather than private possessions. The author, Xenia Cherkaev, begins by exploring the everyday stories of former Leningrad workers who smuggled industrial scrap home over factory fences, shedding light on the collectivist ethical logic that underpinned this socialist household economy.

The book traces the evolution of this ethical logic from its Stalin-era inception to Khrushchev's emphasis on communist ethics and Gorbachev's perestroika, which brought forth its underlying tension between the interests of specific collectives and the socialist household economy itself. Throughout the narrative, Cherkaev weaves a captivating story of how the socialist household economy functioned, how it collapsed, and how it was remembered.

This book is not only a historical exploration but also a reflection on the totalitarian state's jealous control over the economy and its impact on individual freedoms. It raises important questions about how individual interests should align with the public good in a large modern society, challenging the notion that non-private logics of householding are sufficient for its functioning.

Gleaning for Communism offers a unique perspective on the history and legacy of the Soviet Union and provides valuable insights into the complex relationship between individual rights, collective interests, and the state in modern societies. It is a must-read for anyone interested in political philosophy, history, and the social dynamics of post-Soviet societies.

Weight: 454g
Dimension: 229 x 152 x 22 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781501770234