"Janus" Puzzle: a Case of Creative Application of Marxist Theory in the Soviet Lithuanian Historiography?

Academician Juozas Jurginis was one of the most outstanding figures in the Soviet Lithuanian historiography. Analysis of his most fundamental book "The Strengthening of Serfdom in Lithuania" disclosed subtle symptoms of "erosion" in the Soviet version of Marxism. Resting on dist...

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Main Author: Aurimas Švedas
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Vilnius University Press 2005-06-01
Series:Lietuvos Istorijos Studijos
Subjects:
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Online Access:https://www.journals.vu.lt/lietuvos-istorijos-studijos/article/view/37122
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author Aurimas Švedas
author_facet Aurimas Švedas
author_sort Aurimas Švedas
collection DOAJ
description Academician Juozas Jurginis was one of the most outstanding figures in the Soviet Lithuanian historiography. Analysis of his most fundamental book "The Strengthening of Serfdom in Lithuania" disclosed subtle symptoms of "erosion" in the Soviet version of Marxism. Resting on distinctions suggested by A. Bumblauskas (Communist pragmatism, Stalinism - Leninism, Marxism), the analysis regards this study as an effort to dissociate from the Stalinism-Leninism. Being a virtuosic master of Marxist theory, J. Jurginis noticed and emphasized the problem of different ways in which serfdom and feudalism developed in Eastern and Western Europe. Moreover, the region of Eastern Europe was perceived by him as uneven in terms of social and economic relations. In essence, J. Jurginis formulated "ideologically dangerous" hints indicating that Russia and Lithuania were qualitatively different countries in their historical development. J. Jurginis did not attribute Russia to the "maximum" region of Western Europe, while Lithuania according to his conception was close to this civilization space. These insights lead to the conclusion that J. Jurginis covertly challenged stereotypes of the Soviet historiography.
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spelling doaj-art-0c9e1908cd8643e29a9113b63a5677c22025-01-20T18:12:59ZengVilnius University PressLietuvos Istorijos Studijos1392-04481648-91012005-06-011510.15388/LIS.2005.37122"Janus" Puzzle: a Case of Creative Application of Marxist Theory in the Soviet Lithuanian Historiography?Aurimas Švedas0Vilnius University, Lithuania Academician Juozas Jurginis was one of the most outstanding figures in the Soviet Lithuanian historiography. Analysis of his most fundamental book "The Strengthening of Serfdom in Lithuania" disclosed subtle symptoms of "erosion" in the Soviet version of Marxism. Resting on distinctions suggested by A. Bumblauskas (Communist pragmatism, Stalinism - Leninism, Marxism), the analysis regards this study as an effort to dissociate from the Stalinism-Leninism. Being a virtuosic master of Marxist theory, J. Jurginis noticed and emphasized the problem of different ways in which serfdom and feudalism developed in Eastern and Western Europe. Moreover, the region of Eastern Europe was perceived by him as uneven in terms of social and economic relations. In essence, J. Jurginis formulated "ideologically dangerous" hints indicating that Russia and Lithuania were qualitatively different countries in their historical development. J. Jurginis did not attribute Russia to the "maximum" region of Western Europe, while Lithuania according to his conception was close to this civilization space. These insights lead to the conclusion that J. Jurginis covertly challenged stereotypes of the Soviet historiography. https://www.journals.vu.lt/lietuvos-istorijos-studijos/article/view/37122-
spellingShingle Aurimas Švedas
"Janus" Puzzle: a Case of Creative Application of Marxist Theory in the Soviet Lithuanian Historiography?
Lietuvos Istorijos Studijos
-
title "Janus" Puzzle: a Case of Creative Application of Marxist Theory in the Soviet Lithuanian Historiography?
title_full "Janus" Puzzle: a Case of Creative Application of Marxist Theory in the Soviet Lithuanian Historiography?
title_fullStr "Janus" Puzzle: a Case of Creative Application of Marxist Theory in the Soviet Lithuanian Historiography?
title_full_unstemmed "Janus" Puzzle: a Case of Creative Application of Marxist Theory in the Soviet Lithuanian Historiography?
title_short "Janus" Puzzle: a Case of Creative Application of Marxist Theory in the Soviet Lithuanian Historiography?
title_sort janus puzzle a case of creative application of marxist theory in the soviet lithuanian historiography
topic -
url https://www.journals.vu.lt/lietuvos-istorijos-studijos/article/view/37122
work_keys_str_mv AT aurimassvedas januspuzzleacaseofcreativeapplicationofmarxisttheoryinthesovietlithuanianhistoriography