Arto Luukkanen : The Religious Policy of the Stalinist State - A Case Study : the Central Standing Commission on Religious Questions, 1929-1938

This historical monograph reveals the unique story of the secret Soviet commission dedicated to decide on religious-political questions during the 1930s. The rise and fall' of the so-called Cult Commission (1929-1938) contributes to our understanding Soviet religious policy, questions of Stalin and Stalinism, the dynamics of the party-bureaucratic interaction, centre-periphery relations and to the 1930s in general This monograph is based on new archival material. The findings will contradict many old stereotypes and pose new questions for scholars investigating the Soviet policies in 1930s. Pointing out that the structural centre-periphery dilemma is one of the key factors in Understanding Soviet religious policy.