The U.S.S.R. — A Hundred Questions Answered

Description

The many delegations from various countries of Europe, America and Asia which have visited the Soviet Union recently, have expressed a desire for the publication of a booklet which will tell readers in their countries about life in the Soviet Union. It was the delegates' view that such a booklet should explain the structure of the Soviet State, its foreign and home policy, its economy and culture. Indeed, the form of the publication was suggested: a concise work in the shape of brief answers to questions. In response to that wish this booklet on the Soviet Union has been prepared in the form of answers to a hundred questions. 1. What is the U.S.S.R.? - 11 2. Who governs the Soviet Union? - 12 3. What are the functions of the Council of Ministers of the U.S.S.R.? - 15 4. What are the rights of the Union Republics? - 16 5. What are Autonomous Soviet Republics, autonomous Regions and National Areas? - 17 6. What is the power of the local Soviets? - 19 7. How are Soviets elected? - 20 8. Do classes exist in the U.S.S.R.? - 20 9. What are the distinguishing features of the Soviet system of economy? What is the Five-Year Plan? - 23 10. How is the U.S.S.S. State Budget made up? - 24 11. Who manages Soviet industrial enterprises? - 26 12. How did the Soviet Union become an advanced industrial Power? - 27 13. How has the country's industrial geography changed in Soviet times? - 28 14. What are collective farms? - 29 15. How is work rewarded on a collective farm? What is a workday unit? - 31 16. What is a Machine and Tractor Station? 32 17. What is meant by a collective farmer's "subsidiary husbandry"? - 33 18. Are there still peasants in the U.S.S.R. who do not belong to collective farms but farm on their own? - 34 19. How is drought combated in the U.S.S.R.? - 35 20. What is a State farm? - 36 21. How was the post-war Five-Year Plan carried out? - 37 22. What are the Great Construction Projects of Communism? - 39 23. How is the national income distributed? - 40 24. What are the principles of Soviet foreign policy? - 42 25. Is the peaceful co-existence of the socialist and capitalist systems possible? - 44 26. Why are the Soviet people taking an active part in the world peace movement? - 45 27. What is the significance of the Soviet Peace Defence Law? - 46 28. What are the International Stalin Peace Prizes? - 47 29. What does the equality of all Soviet citizens, proclaimed in the Constitution, mean? - 48 30. How is the Soviet citizen's right to work ensured? Why is there no unemployment in the U.S.S.R.? - 49 31. How is the right to own and inherit personal property protected? - 50 32. What are the Soviet laws regarding marriage and the family? - 50 33. What concern does the Soviet State show for mothers? - 51 34. What are the working conditions at Soviet enterprises? - 53 35. What are collective agreements? - 54 36. What systems of payment exist at Soviet enterprises? - 55 37. Who receive service bonuses? - 56 38. What, apart from his wages, does the Soviet worker get from the State? - 56 39. What is "Socialist Emulation"? - 58 40. Who are the Stakhanovites? - 60 41. How is invention encouraged? What are the rights of inventors? - 61 42. How is the training of workers for industry organised? - 62 43. Do disputes between workers and managements occur in the U .S.S.R.? How are they settled? - 63 44. How do the Soviet trade unions function? - 64 45. How do Soviet citizens exercise their right to rest and leisure? - 66 46. How is social insurance organised? - 66 47. What practical provisions are made for material security in old age? - 67 48. How is freedom of conscience exercised? - 68 49. Do all children attend school? - 70 50. What is the social and material position of the teacher in the Soviet Union? - 71 51. What are the opportunities of getting a higher education? - 71 52. What political rights do citizens enjoy? - 73 53. What are the duties of Soviet citizens? - 73 54. What taxes do people pay? - 74 55. What rent is paid? - 75 56. How does the medical service work? - 75 57. What banks are there? Where do people keep their savings? - 76 58. What part do domestic loans play in the U.S.S.R.? - 77 59. What co-operatives exist in the Soviet Union? How do they function? - 78 60. How is Soviet domestic trade organised? - 79 61. How is Soviet foreign trade organised and conducted? - 79 62. Who fixes prices in the U.S.S.R.? - 81 63. What makes the systematic price cuts in the U.S.S.R. possible? What do these reductions mean for the people? - 82 64. How is justice administered? - 83 65. Who may become a Judge? - 84 66. What are the powers of the Procurator-General of the U.S.S.R.? - 85 67. ls there a legal profession in the Soviet Union? - 85 68. What role do kindergartens and creches play? - 86 69. Can a Soviet worker become a highly skilled technician while remaining at his job? - 86 70. How many women engineers and technicians, scientists and statesmen are there in the U.S.S.R.? - 87 71. What scientific institutions are there in the U.S.S.R.? - 88 72. What newspapers are published? - 89 73. What theatres are there? - 90 74. What sort of plays, operas and ballets are produced? - 91 75. What films are most popular? - 93 76. How is the Soviet Writers' Union organised? What are its functions? - 94 77. What publishing houses are there? Do they publish many books? - 95 78. What books by foreign authors are published in the U.S.S.R.? - 96 79. How is broadcasting organised in the U.S.S.R.? - 97 80. How many and what kind of libraries exist? - 98 81. What museums are there? - 99 82. What cultural institutions are there in Soviet villages? - 100 83. What interest is there in sports? - 101 84. Are there professional athletes in the U.S.S.R.? - 102 85. How popular are amateur art, music, drama, dancing, etc.? - 102 86. How do actors, dancers, singers, etc., get their training in the U.S.S.R.? - 103 87. What are Palaces of Culture and Parks of Culture and Rest? - 104 88. What changes have taken place in the appearance of Soviet towns? - 104 89. What Government Decorations are there? - 106 90. What are Stalin Prizes? Who gets them and how are they awarded? - 107 91. What is the Young Communist League? - 108 92. Who are the Young Pioneers? - 109 93. Why is there only one political party? - 109 94. What is the role of the Communist Party in the U.S.S.R.? - 110 95. Wherein lies the strength of the Communist Party? - 112 96. What is meant by Criticism and Self-Criticism? - 112 97. What are socialist nations? - 114 98. What is Soviet patriotism? - 115 99. What is the dictatorship of the proletariat? - 117 100. What is communism? - 118