ABSTRACT
This introduction presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters of this book. The book examines the discourse between the central state leadership and citizens about the new Soviet social contract, which delineated what roles the state and the citizens should play in developing socialism and what the responsibilities of each were. It demonstrates how the draft Constitution highlights the state's attempt to create a new social contract with its citizens and what it expected from them in return. The book highlights the complex realities that shaped daily life and concerns in the primarily rural region by focusing on the demographic, social, and economic situation in post-revolutionary Kirov. It focuses on the implementation of the popular discussion in the Kirov region. The book addresses many of the tensions within the Soviet system. It analyzes the coverage of the popular discussion in Kirovskaia Pravda, the regional newspaper, and several local district newspapers.
