State and society in communist Czechoslovakia : transforming the everyday from WWII to the fall of the Berlin Wall

Resource Information

The work State and society in communist Czechoslovakia : transforming the everyday from WWII to the fall of the Berlin Wall represents a distinct intellectual or artistic creation found in European University Institute. This resource is a combination of several types including: Work, Language Material, Books.

Label

State and society in communist Czechoslovakia : transforming the everyday from WWII to the fall of the Berlin Wall

Title remainder

transforming the everyday from WWII to the fall of the Berlin Wall

Statement of responsibility

Roman Krakovsky

Creator

• Krakovský, Roman

Subject

• Czechoslovakia -- Social conditions -- 1945-1992
• Czechoslovakia -- History -- 1945-1992
• Communism -- Czechoslovakia -- History -- 20th century -- Case studies
• Czechoslovakia -- Politics and government -- 1945-1992
• Czechoslovakia -- History -- 1945-1992 -- Case studies
• Czechoslovakia -- Social conditions -- 1945-1992 -- Case studies
• Communism -- Czechoslovakia -- History -- 20th century
• Czechoslovakia -- Politics and government -- 1945-1992 -- Case studies

Genre

• Case studies

Language

eng

Summary

Across central and eastern Europe after World War II, the newly established communist regimes promised a drastic social revolution that would transform the world at great pace and pave the way to a socialist future. Although many aspects of this utopian project are well known - such as fast-paced industrialisation, collectivisation and urbanisation - the regimes even sought to transform the ways in which their citizens interacted with each other and the world around them. Using a unique analytical model based on an amalgam of anthropology, sociology, history and extensive archival research, award-winning scholar Roman Krakovsky here considers the Czechoslovakian attempt to 'reinvent the world' - 'time' and 'space' included - in this all-encompassing way. Ranging from WWII to the fall of the Berlin Wall, his innovative analysis variously considers the impact of Stakhanovism, the impossible-to-achieve production targets intended to assert socialism's future potential; the attempt to replace Sunday's Christian attributes with socialist ones; and the profound changes brought about to the public and private spheres, including the culture of informing and the ways this was circumvented. Across a wide range of case studies Krakovsky demonstrates both the far-reaching extent of the communist vision and the inherent flaws and contradictions that gradually destabilised it. This in-depth perspective is vital reading for all scholars of twentieth century history and politics.--

Assigning source

Provided by Publisher

Cataloging source

ERL

Index

no index present

Literary form

non fiction

Series statement

International library of twentieth century history