ABSTRACT

The Soviet Union is a multinational state, with about half of the country's population being ethnically Russian. The advent of glasnost, and moves toward democratization and decentralization has unleashed the expression of national sentiments and interests in the USSR. This collection of Soviet materials surveys the many ramifications of the "nationality question" in the USSR in the 1980s. The topics covered include ideology, state organization, party recruitment, inter-republican economic relations, demographic factors, education, bilingualism, cultural institutions, religious traditions, military service, and disputes over republican prerogatives (in the Baltic) and over territory (the case of Nagorno-Karabakh). Each topical section includes a detailed introduction by the editor. This anthology provides coverage of the past decade, up to and including the current unrest and the impact of the Gorbachev reforms.

chapter |4 pages

The Constitution of the USSR*

Chapters 8–11

chapter |8 pages

Sixty Years of the USSR*

chapter |5 pages

In Friendship Lies our Strength*

chapter |12 pages

With a Sound Grasp of the Situation*

chapter |5 pages

The Constructive Power of Brotherhood*

Interrepublican Exchange of Cadres Accelerates the Socioeconomic Development of the Country

chapter |16 pages

Economic Relations among the Republics*

Forms and Essential Features

chapter |21 pages

The Siberian River Diversion Debate

The “Project of the Century” from Several Viewpoints *

chapter |10 pages

Labor Recruitment

A Shortage … Despite the Availability? (A Conversation with Professor T. S. Saidbaev)*

chapter |7 pages

Bilingualism *

A Characteristic Feature of Nations and Nationalities under Developed Socialism

chapter |7 pages

To Master Languages More Deeply *

The Commission on Nationality and Inter-nationality Relations of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Latvian SSR

chapter |5 pages

The Soviet Multinational Cinema*

Similarities and Differences

chapter |6 pages

We Have Come to Act*

chapter |7 pages

From the 1987 Plenum of the USSR Union of Writers*

Literature and the Present

chapter |14 pages

Culture and Religion *

chapter |8 pages

Sheikh Yusuf Hamadani *

chapter |17 pages

Islam and Politics *

chapter |17 pages

Preliminary Results of a Thousand-year Experiment *

A Conversation with Academician D. S. Likhachev

chapter |5 pages

Soviet Patriotism*

chapter |15 pages

Service in Afghanistan

Coverage in the Republic Press

chapter |2 pages

Roots*

chapter |6 pages

The Crimean Tatars

There are No Waves without Foam: On the Visit of a Group of Crimean Tatars to Moscow*

chapter |11 pages

The Summer 1987 Protests

Coverage from the Soviet Press

chapter |4 pages

Position Without “Opposition”*

Comments from the Plenum of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Lithuania

chapter |12 pages

Resolution of the Plenum of the Latvian Union of Writers*

With the Participation of the Directorates of the Unions of Architects, Designers, Artists, Cinematographers, Composers, and Theatrical Workers, Journalists, and Experts

chapter |1 pages

Order of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the Estonian Soviet Socialist Republic

On the State and National Symbol of the Estonian SSR

chapter |10 pages

Current Problems in Nationality Relations*

The All-Union Conference in Baku, December 1983

chapter |6 pages

On Measures to Accelerate Socioeconomic Development of the Nagorno-Karabakh AO of the Azerbaidzhan SSR in 1988–1995*

Resolution of the Central Committee of the CPSU and the Council of Ministers of the USSR of 24 March 1988

chapter |7 pages

The Riot in Sumgait

chapter |6 pages

The Strikes in the Nagorno-Karabakh AO

Coverage in the Azerbaidzhan Press

chapter |6 pages

The Strikes in the Nagorno-Karabakh AO

Coverage in Armenia

chapter |19 pages

The Strikes in the Nagorno-Karabakh AO

Coverage in Moscow