ABSTRACT
Stalin sought to personalise the political system and to transform the economy. This had a profound effect on society and culture in the Soviet Union. One practical result was the strengthening of the family as a vehicle for political and ideological control. Hence there were restrictions on divorce from 1935 and a ban was placed on abortion in 1936. Stalin also moved away from an earlier emphasis on social equality; instead, he reintroduced wage differentials and accentuated ranks within the army. Meanwhile, the provision of education was expanded through Narkompros (People’s Commissariat for Enlightenment), while traditional forms of discipline were restored in schools-as were formal examinations. All cultural activities were brought within the overall criteria of Socialist Realism. This affected architecture, painting, music and film, and, of course, literature, which was placed under the additional constraints of the Russian Association of Proletarian Writers (RAPP) and the Union of Writers. Attempts were also made to destroy the religious base of the lives of Russians and the ethnic minorities. All forms of Christianity were attacked, along with Islam and Buddhism, and atheist organisations like the League of Godless were actively encouraged.
