Response#3: Everyday Stalinism by Fitzpatrick

Part 1: Sheila Fitzpatrick’s Everyday Stalinism: Ordinary Life in Extraordinary Times, Soviet Russia in the 1930s is focused on the urban life of Soviet citizens. Rather than making theories about Soviet culture, she goes for a general explanation of Soviet life describing in great detail how the new Soviet specie, Homo sovieticus, learn to adapt to its new habitat. Critical to this new evolutionary adaption was the ability to scavenge for scarce goods in an urban environment. The scarcity of goods was due to the state run economy that was plagued with chronic shortages. While taking note of the importance of stories on Soviet citizens, she outright ignores class due to blurring lines caused by pretenders and State pressure.

Part 2: Sheila Fritzpatrick’s focus on the power of the state in relation to the everyday life of Soviet citizens disperses apocalyptic visions of “Big Brother” and secret police behind every door. Unlike our Western liberalistic view of the world, Soviet citizens viewed their conditions as “normal everyday events.” The significant lack of “freedoms” in Soviet Russia, something always harped on about in 20^th century fiction, was not really noticed by the average Soviet citizen. In fact, the primary noticeable difference for the general proletariat was the disappearance of goods from stores. No it was not the Great Purges that persecuted the bureaucratic elite or the heavy censorship of the press, but material goods that were the main source of complaints towards the government. Soviet society, like other societies, has proven true to the bread and circus theme.

Continuing this theme of bread and circus, we can see that the main body of complaints comes from the interference with the bread and circus of everyday life. The primary interference is the state bureaucracy stocked with incompetent administrators at every level of service. While in the Western democracies, bureaucratic establishments have always contained some level of cronyism, in the Soviet Union cronyism was painfully felt in just about every aspect of day-to-day life. From long lines just to buy bread to getting papers check out for train ticket, Soviet citizens had to deal with bureaucratic inefficiency everyday. Thus, the strong presence of government jokes in everyday life and in literature.

While Fitzpatrick’s work is well written and insightful of the social conditions of the soviet urbanite, one phrase continues to bother me, Homo Sovieticus. The phrase is an obvious ploy to plug science into a historical work. Since the introduction of the monograph, her use of term Homo Sovieticus has bothered me for two reasons: the failed ploy to develop the idea of the Soviet citizen as separate specie and the incorrect scientific taxonomy. Fitzpatrick throws in the phrase in her introduction and does not return to it until her conclusion. Worse, her use of the term is incorrect scientifically. The phrase should be Homo sovieticus with the entire name in italics and the second word (the specie specification) in all lowercase. While this may appear like nitpicking, the sciences of specie differentiation should not be introduced as an attention grabber if the author has no knowledge of binomial nomenclature. If grammar Nazis can point out the irksomeness of good versus well, a scientist should have the same authority.

Response#2: The Russian Revolution by Fritzpatrick, State and Revolution by Lenin

Part 1: The introduction and chapters 2 and 3 of Fritzpatrick’s The Russian Revolution aims to show the realities behind the Russian Revolution of 1917. The true strength of the Bolshevik Party came not from a small Central Committee, but the workers, soldiers, and sailors that gave the Bolshevik Party its base of support. After taking power, the Bolsheviks had to deal with issue of governance. The move towards authoritarianism reflected the party’s military makeup as well as Lenin’s push for one party rule. Lenin’s philosophy is highlighted in his State and Revolution, where he boldly asserts the requirement of violence in a revolution.

Part 2: During the First World War Imperial Russia came to an end. The February Revolution led to a Provisional Government that came to share power with the Petrograd Soviet. The duality of power did not last as the Bolsheviks seized power in the second October revolution. The often-quoted reason for Bolshevik success was the party’s central organization and strict party discipline. However as Fritzpatrick points out, the Bolshevik party was swamped by new memberships. Rather than being a small group compromised of old elite members (Lenin & Co.), the Bolshevik Party was becoming a large group. Even more important, the failure of the Provisional Government was instrumental in the rise of the Bolsheviks.

The Provisional Government failed to forge a connection between the government and the population. The fall of the autocracy was brought on by the army’s defeats in war. Thus continuing the war, although done to retain face internationally, almost guaranteed negative feedback from the populace. Further defeats and enemy invasions discredited the Provincial Government as incapable of rule. Stacked on top of that was the lack of reforms. The fervor of popular support behind the first revolution, gave way to disillusionment, as the promised “changes” never occurred. The Bolshevik Party was in the optimal place and time to take advantage of the population mood.

Popular grassroots is often forgotten in political history where key figures and major players are often played up. The grassroots behind the Bolsheviks was evident in the July Days protest. Thousands took to the streets to protest against the war. Surprising Lenin was quite meek during the July Days, damaging his own reputation as a hardliner. He would not make the same mistake again as he later advocated for an armed insurrection. This strong stance of the Bolsheviks provided a great beacon for those disillusioned by the Provisional Government. Radicalized, the workers, soldiers, and sailors advocated for more drastic measures. A similar type of radicalization can be witness in the general public dissatisfaction with the Weimar Republic in Germany prior to World War II. When changes and improvements are promised, but are not felt the public can turn very quickly. By the time of the October Revolution occurred the Provisional Government was already on its knees. Both the Reds and Whites, however, ensured that the coming Civil War was going to be bloody and violent just as Lenin foretold.

Response#1: Stalin by Stephen Kotkin

Part 1: Stephen Kotkin’s Stalin seeks to demonstrate that Stalin was not a mythical super being that rose to the heights of power. Nor was Stalin a lowly destitute peasant at the bottom of the totem pole. Rather Stalin was the unlikely product of various factors and events in history. Kotkin aims to provide the most accurate tale of Stalin bypassing popular myths about the Russian leader in favor of elaborating on the geopolitical situation of Russia.

Part 2: The story of Stalin is surrounded by mystery. The tales involving the Soviet leader range from abused childhood to sexual deviant. It does not help that the Soviet leader himself was always revising his past. Thus, history has portrayed Stalin with many different faces. One popular historical tale is Stalin’s difficult childhood. According to the myth Stalin was born in poverty to a cobbler father, who beat him consistently, and streamstress mother, who worked hard to take care of him. The popularity behind the lore can most likely be attributed to the one sided narrative of Stalin’s mother and the emotional appeal it offers. The alcoholic father plays right into the stereotype that the audience loves. The apparent logic behind this misconception is that Stalin’s poor childhood somehow factors into how he acted later on in life. A similar narrative is also played up for another totalitarian dictator, Hitler. While containing perhaps a hint of truth, too many people focus solely on childhood as a prediction of future behavior. Getting beaten by your father does not give you a free “act as you want” pass.

Like the previous historical misconception, Stalin’s connection to religion is not well known because many textbooks glide over it. Kotkin demonstrates that religion was Stalin’s savior. Religious schools offered some of the highest available education in Georgia. Stalin himself was quite a devotee to Eastern Orthodoxy, evident in his rejection of a full scholarship to a teacher training school in Tiflis in favor of the city’s religious seminary. Without the education that Stalin received from church school he would probably not become the leader of the Soviet Union. Rather it is likely that he would have become a proletariat living a life of misery at the tannery. Unfortunately for East Orthodoxy, Stalin’s later split with religion would lead him down the path of revolution. Later on from his position in the Kremlin, he would launch a vicious, systematic attack on the church authority in Russia.

The story of Stalin as told thus far by Kotkin is one of extreme intrigue to a history student. Perhaps because I have a fascination with World War II history (like most male history students) the tale of the “real” story of Stalin continues to excite me. My previous views on the Soviet dictator were quite mixed. I already knew all the popular myths surrounding him including his hand in the Great Purge and his famous Order 227 “not one step back.” However, I find myself often locked in a Stalin apologist stance because of the sheer sacrifice of the Russian army in World War II. Nevertheless, Kotkin is significantly better at writing out history than YouTube commenters. His attention to geopolitical details to flesh out the Russian environment at the time makes hardcore history nerds squeal in joy. I look forward to reading the rest of Stalin.

Reading Journal #8: Bonestell, Clarke, Novak, Disney’s Man in Space

For the week of “Final Frontiers” there were three readings and one film focused on the ideas of space travel. Chesley Bonestell placed space travel in a soothing light through the description of a possible future vacation. Arthur C. Clarke tackled the issue of space travel in depth with his explanation of why space travel is important culturally and why critics of space travel are short sighted. Matt Novak dispels the myth surrounding the US space program. Disney’s Man in Space demonstrates the history of rocketry and how a possible US mission to space could occur.

Bonestell’s comic about Mr. Smith and family visiting Venus display all the signs of utopian dreams. The prices of all the attractions: rocket tickets, hotel, and food are described as “surprising moderately.” Venus’s environment is rejuvenating with its ability of letting old Mr. Smith feel less gravitational burden. Children enjoy all the attractions without catching the slightest disease from plants or strange wildlife. Dangers of the exotic environment are ever present, but our vacationing guests are safe and sound in their personal transport. The perfection of such an image clearly is aimed at avoiding any unpleasant affairs of terrestrial life, even politics and social conflict.

Thankfully Clarke takes the discussion of space travel into a more serious direction with his motives for space exploration. His belief is that culture, not mere material gains, is the main importance of space colonization. He is ever confident in the ability of science to solve the problems concerning the conquest of space. Yet he finds the military’s focus on rocketry distasteful, hoping that eventually the technology will be converted over to peaceful purposes. Therefore, Clarke would find the use of cellphones and GPS as a great example of how the advanced technologies designed for military use are utilized for the public. He would also gush on and on about the advancement of computers for civilian use as well.

Tying into the idea of promoting space age expansion, Novak moves to dispel the myth of massive support behind the Apollo project and the believed large NASA budget. According to Novak, except for once shortly after the moon landing, the Apollo project never enjoyed the support of majority of Americans. This finding is a likely indicator that space exploration will continue to be sidelined by the public and as a result NASA will find its budget severely limited. Despite this lack of public interest, private entrepreneurs like Walt Disney will continue to push for the galaxy and beyond.

Private enterprises enjoy the benefit of not having to yield to public opinion. However, they rely heavily on the path set forth by the current CEO. A perfect example of another big time space dreamer would be Elon Musk. Musk aims continually for space enterprise even though he has faced set backs with his Space X program. Yet this makes me wonder. If Musk were no longer present would Space X continue or would it take the route of Disney’s Epcot.

Phossy Jaw and Match Factory Worker

Uncovering the Cause of “Phossy Jaw” Circa 1858 to 1906: Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Closed Case Files—Case Closed

Robert E. Marx DDS

Abstract:

·      Phossy Jaw à Exposed bone osteonecrosis exclusively in the jaws

·      Phossy Jaw epidemic from 1858 – 1906

·      Linked to yellow phosphorous, key ingredient in “strike anywhere” matches

·      Workers exposed to heated fumes containing yellow phosphorous à Later many developed painful exposed bone of the mouth while their office workers did not

·      Yellow Phosphorous, P₄O₁₀ when combined with water (H₂O), carbon dioxide (CO₂) and a common amino acid (lysine) results in bisphosphonates

§  1832 Discovery of easy ignition using yellow phosphorous

§  “Strike-anywhere” matches popular b/c easy to light à Very unstable and prone to accidently ignition through shaking or warm temp.

§  Convenience à Quickly adopted by industrial nations

§  Early on in response to accident, 1855 Swedish scientist safety match same as earlier match BUT using more stable red phosphorous instead (IGNORED)

§  1858 Start of medical reports of disease involving slow exposure of jaw

§  1862 Report by Simon to Brit. Parliament of Dr. Bristowe’s 61 case study

1.     Dull red area develop in gum à usually connected to infected tooth

2.     Ulcer formed or post tooth removal socket refuses to heal

3.     Swelling of gums or jaw

4.     Slow progression of bone described as porous, light, with a worm-eaten appearance like pumice stone

§  35 year old patient present with great external swelling, debilitated due to inability to eat

1.     Ear to ear jaw line, chain of ulcerated openings with discharge

2.     Toothless alveolar process was bare of soft parts, bone rough and brownish black

3.     Under chloroform jaw was removed by taking two halves out separately, no knife was needed, bone gave way completely

4.     Patient healed & improved BUT died 6 weeks later b/c upper airway obstruction

§  1863 – 1899 Numerous cases reported à Generating public & political awareness

§  1872 Finland bans Yellow Phosphorous matches, 1874 Denmark follows

§  1890 Founder of Salvation Army, General Booth & assistant James Barker begin activist campaign to expose dangers of match making industry

§  Early 1900s link between Phossy jaw and match making factories clear à 1906 Berne Convention – Ban on “strike anywhere” matches à All except US sign

§  US laissez faire refuses to sign ban

1931 Yellow matches finally disappear from US b/c high taxes placed on them

Primary sources:

- American Association for Labor Legislation. Phosphorus Poisoning: "Phossy Jaw" Menaces American Match Workers : Congress Must Abolish It. [New York, 1912].

- New York Times (1857-1922); Dec 7, 1911; ProQuest Historical Newspapers: The New York Times pg. 12