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.
Author(s): Soviet News
Publisher: Soviet News
Year: 1952
Language: English
Pages: 120
City: London
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
