Peasant Youth and Social Anomie in Soviet Society of Mid-1920s

Abstract

This article examines the factors and manifestations of social anomie within the Soviet countryside during the mid-1920s, a period shaped by revolutionary upheaval, the aftermath of the Civil War, and intensified Bolshevik campaigns to sovietize rural areas. The study argues that this era was marked by profound socio-economic and cultural transformations that placed traditional institutions and the communal way of life under existential threat, precipitating widespread social instability and the disintegration of established norms and values. The analysis identifies several core drivers of rising anomie: persistent property and social stratification within the village; widening disparities between workers and peasants amidst the implementation of the New Economic Policy (NEP); and deep-seated resentment toward Bolshevik tax policies. Furthermore, the paper establishes that a significant decline in the legitimacy of and trust in Soviet authority among the rural population played a crucial role, exacerbating internal discord and confusion regarding new regulations and demands. Contributing catalysts include shifts in the economic sphere as well as ideological assaults directed against peasant traditionalism. The author analyzes specific expressions of social anomie, ranging from the proliferation of critical, pessimistic, and defeatist sentiments among the peasantry to heightened levels of social apathy and alienation. Particular attention is devoted to the phenomenon of “Yeseninshchina” as a symptomatic expression of youthful agrarian negativism and despair.