State socialist societies were characterized by a foundation that placed significant emphasis on labor. The populace was expected to engage in labor for the eventual triumph of communism, while also being entitled to gainful employment. A considerable number of welfare benefits were contingent upon employment. Concurrently, communist regimes articulated explicit principles delineating what constituted reasonable and unreasonable post-workday activities. Ideologists urged workers to utilize their discretionary time for self-improvement and voluntary contributions. However, social realities were notoriously different. For instance, the average Bulgarian under communism allocated more time to television viewing than to activities in one of the officially mandated organizations. The social practices observed on the shop floor diverged significantly from the expectations of Communist Party leaders as well. In contrast to the paradigm of a profoundly dedicated labor force, ideally characterized by self-sacrifice for the greater good of communism, the individuals and groups in question sought to attain a satisfactory quality of life. The nature of work was frequently arduous and hazardous, yet it was equally characterized by periods of leisure and social interaction.
In this seminar, we will utilize the concept of relations, tensions, and overlaps between work and leisure as a lens to comprehend social and economic dynamics during state socialism. The focus of this study is twofold: firstly, an examination of social practices of accommodation, resistance, and muddling through from below; and secondly, an analysis of the political and economic forces from above that aimed to shape work and leisure in specific ways. This approach will reveal substantial differences in time—from the early Soviet Russia period to the erosion of the socialist order in the 1980s—and space, as countries from the Baltic to the Black and Adriatic Seas differed substantially.
Assignments: classroom discussion, development of a project, presentation, essay
Introductory and specialized literature will be made available at the beginning of the semester.
