Tikhonov V.V. The Stalin Prize as an Instrument for Constructing a Unified History of the Peoples of the USSR

Abstract: The article is focused on analysing the role of the book-laureates of the Stalin Prize (prize named after J. V. Stalin) in the construction of a unified history of the peoples of the USSR. The author demonstrates the ideological context of the turn towards the ideology of "the Fraternity of Peoples" and the role of history in it. The author regards the Stalin Prize as a "soft" means of ideological control. The analysed laureate books include those by B. D. Grekov and A. Y. Yakubovskiy, J. J. Zutis, S. V. Kiselev, B. B. Piotrovskiy, L. P. Potapov, and S. P. Tolstoy. The article underlines that it was precisely the historical constituent that had played one of the leading roles in the formation of the Soviet national community. The author comes to the conclusion that Ancient periods in the histories of the peoples of the USSR were favoured for the benefit of constructing a unified historical past, since these periods were easier to present in the needed light. Demonstrations of the USSR peoples’ antiquity were particularly welcomed, as well as proof of their influence on world civilisation. Particular attention is paid to searches of examples of class solidarity in history. A common tragedy that unified the peoples of the USSR was also found: the Mongol-Tatar invasion.

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