The LRB Podcast In the Soviet Archives: a conversation with Sheila Fitzpatrick
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May 14, 2025 
Sheila Fitzpatrick, a renowned historian of the Soviet Union and author of influential works like 'Everyday Stalinism,' shares her fascinating insights. She discusses her groundbreaking experiences in Soviet archives during the 1960s, challenging the traditional views of Soviet governance. Topics include the complexities of Soviet education policy, the immediate aftermath of Stalin's death, and the struggles scholars face in discussing Soviet history amidst ideological tensions. Fitzpatrick's personal anecdotes enrich the conversation, shedding light on displacement and resilience.
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Breakthrough in Soviet Archival Access
- Sheila Fitzpatrick's first archival work in Moscow was on Anatoly Lunacharsky's ministry papers, despite being initially blocked from Soviet period archives.
- This unexpected access revealed complex bureaucratic politics under a totalitarian façade, reshaping her view of Soviet government.
Bureaucracy Fueled By Factions
- The Soviet bureaucracy operated with factionalism and political maneuvering similar to other systems, despite official denials.
- Personal conflicts were mostly implied between the lines in bureaucratic archives, not openly documented.
Soviet Affirmative Action Policies
- Soviet nationality policy included affirmative action promoting "backward" nationalities and lower classes within education and bureaucracy.
- This complex policy intertwined class and nationality, with nationality often meaning non-Russian groups needing support.
