THE MAIN DIRECTIONS IN PUBLISHING ACTIVITY OF THE PEOPLE’S COMMISSARIAT FOR NATIONALITIES OF THE RSFSR (1918–1924)

DOI: 10.47026/2712-9454-2025-6-2-5-13

УДК 93/94

ББК 74.03(235)6к22

Ilya V. DMITRIEV

Key words

People’s Commissariat for Nationalities of the RSFSR (Narkomnats), national policy, publishing activities, «The Life of Nationalities».

Abstract

Russia’s polyethnicity has always been taken into account by the state authorities when developing policies aimed at ensuring peaceful coexistence of different peoples in the country. The advent of new newspapers and magazines in the early 20th century was a significant event in the Russian information space. Publications in the national languages of numerous non-Russian ethnic groups began to be published, which published, in particular, the decrees of the Soviet government. This enabled the new Government, created in 1917, to convey to the population the main ideas of the Bolsheviks’ declared course.

The purpose of the study is to study the main directions in publishing activities carried out by the People’s Commissariat for Nationalities of the RSFSR, which implemented the national policy in 1917–1924.

Materials and methods. The main materials used in the research were archival documents found in the State Archive of the Russian Federation and the Russian State Archive of Socio-Political History, collections of materials and reports of the People’s Commissariat for Nationalities published in separate pamphlets. General scientific and special historical methods, principles and approaches were used.

Results. The national policy for the newly formed country was an important mechanism for constructing a new model of statehood. In 1917, a separate institution of government was established – the People’s Commissariat for Nationalities of the RSFSR. In order to convey their ideas to the masses of the people in different regions of the country, various tools were needed: newspapers, information leaflets, popular science brochures, etc. On the back of this, the Central Eastern Publishing House, the Central Western Publishing House, as well as the newspaper (later a periodical) «The Life of Nationalities» were created under the People’s Commissariat. The article describes their activities.

Conclusions. Under the People’s Commissariat for Nationalities, effective mechanisms were created to inform the population of the country about the national policy of the Soviet government. Great importance was set to the establishment and publication of the newspaper «Life of Nationalities». The main feature of the publication was its appeal to the large population of the RSFSR, who belonged to various ethnic groups and faiths, with their rich culture and languages. In addition to the newspaper, the Central Eastern Publishing House and the Central Western Publishing House, which were merged in 1924, played a significant role in dissemination of information. Thanks to their work, an active process of publishing scientific, regulatory, fine literature and periodical literature in the national languages of the peoples who lived in the Soviet state began. Translation into national languages of normative documents and literature with pronounced Soviet content made it possible for the widest agitation among the multi-million multiethnic population of the country, which, in fact, was one of the main activities of the People’s Commissariat for Nationalities. Power retention in a multinational state largely depended on the institutions of government, including the People’s Commissariat for Nationalities of the RSFSR.

References

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Information about the author

Ilya V. Dmitriev – Post-Graduate Student, Department of Russian History, Chuvash State University, Russia, Cheboksary (ilya.dmitriev-btc@yandex.ru).

For citations

Dmitriev I.V. The main directions in publishing activity of the People’s Commissariat for Nationalities of the RSFSR (1918–1924). Historical Search, 2025, vol. 6, no. 2, pp. 5–13. DOI: 10.47026/2712-9454-2025-6-2-5-13 (in Russian).

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