The Biopolitics of Stalinism: Ideology and Life in Soviet Socialism

Sergei Prozorov

Published by Edinburgh University Press 2016

The Biopolitics of Stalinism

Ideology and Life in Soviet Socialism

Sergei Prozorov

https://doi.org/10.1515/9781474410540

Overview
Contents

About this book

The first book to investigate Soviet socialism from a biopolitical perspective

Western theories of biopolitics focus on its liberal and fascist rationalities. In opposition to this, Stalinism was oriented more towards transforming life in accordance with the communist ideal, and less towards protecting it.

Sergei Prozorov reconstructs this rationality in the early Stalinist project of the Great Break (1928–32) and its subsequent modifications during High Stalinism. He then relocates the question of biopolitics down to the level of the subject, tracing the way the ‘new Soviet person’ was to be produced in governmental practices and the role that violence and terror would play in this construction.

Key Features

Extracts Soviet socialism as a distinct strain of political theory, distinguishing it from the grab-bag of totalitarianism or a Russian deviation from ‘proper’ socialism
Critically engages with the canonical theories of Michel Foucault, Giorgio Agamben and Roberto Esposito, and the new materialist theories of Michel Henry, Quentin Meillassoux and Catherine Malabou
Analyses the origins of the postcommunist rehabilitation of Stalinism under Putin
Develops a new concept of affirmative biopolitics, advancing current debates in political theory and philosophy

Topics

Frontmatter Publicly Available Download PDF	i
CONTENTS Publicly Available Download PDF	v
PREFACE Publicly Available Download PDF	vii
Introduction Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	1
1 Postcommunist Stalinism: The Resurrection of the Effective Manager Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	13
2 Stalinism in the Theory of Biopolitics: A Brief Genealogy of a Reticence Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	38
3 The Great Break: Making Socialism Real Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	71
4 High Stalinism: Retreat, Simulacrum, Terror Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	127
5 Deathly Life: The Subject of Stalinism Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	171
6 Shalamov, or the Negative Experience Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	202
7 A Real Renewal of Life: Towards an Affi rmative Biopolitics Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	254
Conclusion Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	289
Notes Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	296
Bibliography Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	313
Index Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	331

(Deutsch)

Language: English
Publisher: Edinburgh University Press
Audience: College/higher education;
Pages
- Main content: 352
Keywords: Politics

eBook

Published: February 15, 2016
ISBN: 9781474410540