Communist and Post-Communist Studies's Avatar

Communist and Post-Communist Studies

@cpcs.bsky.social

Communist and Post-Communist Studies (CPCS) is an international, peer-reviewed scholarly journal featuring comparative research on current and historical developments in the communist and post-communist world. Editor: Paul Goode (@jpaulgoode.bsky.social)

2,093 Followers  |  621 Following  |  173 Posts  |  Joined: 30.11.2023  |  1.9497

Latest posts by cpcs.bsky.social on Bluesky

Self-Governing FactoryThe Solidarity Revolution at the Enterprise Level and the Origins of Poland’s Market Reforms, 1980–81 “Self-Governing Factory” analyzes the Polish Solidarity revolution of 1980–81 and the resulting economic reforms from the micro-historical perspective of a single enterprise—the Small-Engine Car Facto...

Recently published in the June issue:

Self-Governing Factory: The Solidarity Revolution at the Enterprise Level and the Origins of Poland’s Market Reforms, 1980–81 Available
by Kaspar Pucek

Free to access for one week.
doi.org/10.1525/cpcs...

22.07.2025 08:21 — 👍 1    🔁 0    💬 0    📌 0
Preview
Publishing in Academic Journals and Books Presentation at XI ICCEES World Congress

Attending #ICCEES2025? Reach out to Editor-in-Chief Paul Goode (@jpaulgoode.bsky.social) if you'd like to discuss your manuscript, and please join us for the panel on "Publishing in Academic Journals and Books" on Wednesday, July 23rd.

www.myeventflo.com/event-lectur...

19.07.2025 21:07 — 👍 8    🔁 2    💬 0    📌 0
Knowledge Production and Resistance in Times of WarThe Case of Russian Liberal Scholars Today scholars have often expressed skepticism about the existence of any significant anti-war resistance within Russia, as well as about the feasibility and necessity of studying Russian society. By ...

New in Advance Articles:

Knowledge Production and Resistance in Times of War: The Case of Russian Liberal Scholars Available
by Elena Pavlova

doi.org/10.1525/cpcs...

18.07.2025 12:35 — 👍 2    🔁 0    💬 0    📌 1
Communist and Post-Communist Studies Access 135+ million publications and connect with 20+ million researchers. Join for free and gain visibility by uploading your research.

Communist and Post-Communist Studies is now on ResearchGate!

www.researchgate.net/journal/Comm...

15.07.2025 20:48 — 👍 1    🔁 0    💬 0    📌 0
ICT Use and Entrepreneurial Mobilization of Chinese Grassroots Activists in and beyond CyberspaceA Case Study of Popular Protest in Qidong While prevailing scholarship commonly asserts that information and communication technologies (ICTs) significantly facilitate mass mobilization, a growing body of literature questions the mobilization...

Recently published in the June issue:

ICT Use and Entrepreneurial Mobilization of Chinese Grassroots Activists in and beyond Cyberspace: A Case Study of Popular Protest in Qidong Available
by Jian Lu

Free to access for one week.
doi.org/10.1525/cpcs...

15.07.2025 12:14 — 👍 2    🔁 1    💬 0    📌 0
This study examines democracy promotion during interstate war, focusing on Polish NGO efforts during Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. By examining the efforts of Polish NGOs during the ongoing war in Ukraine, the study explores the strategies, areas of focus, and shifts in approaches compared to the pre-war period. The objective is to shed light on the rationale behind democracy promotion; delineate the evolving roles, approaches, and tactics of democracy promoters; and draw lessons learned. Bridging the gap in existing knowledge, the study explores dynamics during active conflict offering perspectives from Polish NGOs that have been engaged in democracy promotion in Ukraine since the 1990s.

This study examines democracy promotion during interstate war, focusing on Polish NGO efforts during Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. By examining the efforts of Polish NGOs during the ongoing war in Ukraine, the study explores the strategies, areas of focus, and shifts in approaches compared to the pre-war period. The objective is to shed light on the rationale behind democracy promotion; delineate the evolving roles, approaches, and tactics of democracy promoters; and draw lessons learned. Bridging the gap in existing knowledge, the study explores dynamics during active conflict offering perspectives from Polish NGOs that have been engaged in democracy promotion in Ukraine since the 1990s.

Just Published in the June issue:

Forging Democracy in the Flames: Strategies of Polish NGOs during the Full-Scale War in Ukraine
by Paulina Pospieszna & Patrice C. McMahon

Open access: doi.org/10.1525/cpcs...

Abstract:

08.07.2025 12:35 — 👍 1    🔁 1    💬 0    📌 0
Drawing on the concept of strategic narrative, this article explores how Russia’s issue narratives on the Ukraine events were reproduced by local narrative agents. I conducted content analysis of texts published in Japan from 2014 through 2019, and regression analysis to examine whether authors’ reproduction of Russia’s narratives is correlated to their affiliation with area studies branches (Russian studies, studies of other post-communist countries) and disciplines; epistemic linkage with the Kremlin-sponsored Valdai Discussion Club; and publication political stance (communist, progressive, conservative, neo-right) and types (peer-reviewed journals, think-tank reports, popular magazines).

Drawing on the concept of strategic narrative, this article explores how Russia’s issue narratives on the Ukraine events were reproduced by local narrative agents. I conducted content analysis of texts published in Japan from 2014 through 2019, and regression analysis to examine whether authors’ reproduction of Russia’s narratives is correlated to their affiliation with area studies branches (Russian studies, studies of other post-communist countries) and disciplines; epistemic linkage with the Kremlin-sponsored Valdai Discussion Club; and publication political stance (communist, progressive, conservative, neo-right) and types (peer-reviewed journals, think-tank reports, popular magazines).

Just Published in the June issue:

Explaining Support for Russian Narratives about the Events in Ukraine among Japanese Scholars and Intellectuals in 2014–19
by Sanshiro Hosaka

Free to access for one week.

doi.org/10.1525/cpcs...

24.06.2025 11:21 — 👍 2    🔁 1    💬 0    📌 0
Despite Russia’s relatively low ranking on gender equality, recent emigrants who left the country after February 2022 exhibit significantly higher levels of gender egalitarianism compared to their counterparts in Russia. This study investigates whether these attitudes are attributable to socio-demographic factors such as education and urban residence, or if deeper ideological and political factors play a role. Using data from the OutRush project on Russian emigration after 2022 and the World Values Survey, we analyze two key questions: Do recent emigrants demonstrate more egalitarian attitudes than socio-demographically similar Russians? Does gender equality of host countries influence emigrants’ attitudes? Our findings suggest that emigrants exhibit higher levels of gender egalitarianism than comparable groups in Russia, even after controlling for socio-demographic predictors. These differences persist after controlling for socioeconomic predictors, reflecting deeply ingrained values that were probably developed by the pre-migration experiences of political opposition actions and social activism. The results challenge theories of rapid acculturation and highlight the role of self-selection as a key factor underlying gender egalitarian attitudes.

Despite Russia’s relatively low ranking on gender equality, recent emigrants who left the country after February 2022 exhibit significantly higher levels of gender egalitarianism compared to their counterparts in Russia. This study investigates whether these attitudes are attributable to socio-demographic factors such as education and urban residence, or if deeper ideological and political factors play a role. Using data from the OutRush project on Russian emigration after 2022 and the World Values Survey, we analyze two key questions: Do recent emigrants demonstrate more egalitarian attitudes than socio-demographically similar Russians? Does gender equality of host countries influence emigrants’ attitudes? Our findings suggest that emigrants exhibit higher levels of gender egalitarianism than comparable groups in Russia, even after controlling for socio-demographic predictors. These differences persist after controlling for socioeconomic predictors, reflecting deeply ingrained values that were probably developed by the pre-migration experiences of political opposition actions and social activism. The results challenge theories of rapid acculturation and highlight the role of self-selection as a key factor underlying gender egalitarian attitudes.

New in Advance Articles:

Gender Egalitarianism of Recent Emigrants from Russia: The Effect of Emigration or a Trait of a Social Group?
by Veronica Kostenko, Emil Kamalov, Ivetta Sergeeva

doi.org/10.1525/cpcs...

23.06.2025 13:47 — 👍 4    🔁 2    💬 0    📌 0
Post image Post image

The 2024 Journal Citation Report is out: the Impact Factor for CPCS increased for the 3rd year running, climbing to 1.3. The journal also had a record number of citations (897), and moved from Q3 to Q2 in Political Science and International relations.

18.06.2025 13:52 — 👍 3    🔁 0    💬 0    📌 1
Supporting the War in Ukraine Compared to the Annexation of Crimea in Russia’s Bureaucratic Texts What can be said about the nature of support for Putin’s policies toward Ukraine in Russia’s bureaucracy? Despite the extensive repression making assessment of the actual nature of the support challen...

Just Published in the June issue:
Supporting the War in Ukraine Compared to the Annexation of Crimea in Russia’s Bureaucratic Texts
by Jussi Lassila

Open access: doi.org/10.1525/cpcs...

17.06.2025 11:26 — 👍 2    🔁 1    💬 0    📌 0
Sino-Russian Relations from the Perspective of National Role TheoryMutual Role Expectations and Symbolic Contestation in Media Discourses This study explores the discursive patterns of mutual altercasting, role-claiming, and symbolic contestation in Russian and Chinese media in the 2010s, relying on the national role theory (NRT). The a...

New in Advance Articles:

Sino-Russian Relations from the Perspective of National Role Theory: Mutual Role Expectations and Symbolic Contestation in Media Discourses
by Elizaveta Priupolina

doi.org/10.1525/cpcs...

13.06.2025 13:31 — 👍 1    🔁 1    💬 0    📌 0
Putin’s Technological DelugeTechno-Populism, Anti-Westernism, and the Strive for Global Leadership This study explores techno-populism in Russia as the interweaving of technocratic and populist discourses. Analyzing eight Presidential Addresses to the Federal Assembly (between 2012 and 2020), it ma...

Just Published in the June issue:

Putin’s Technological Deluge: Techno-Populism, Anti-Westernism, and the Strive for Global Leadership Available
by Olga Solovyeva & Ilya Yablokov

Free to access for one week.
doi.org/10.1525/cpcs...

10.06.2025 13:05 — 👍 1    🔁 1    💬 0    📌 0
Preview
a man and a woman are dancing in a room with their hands in the air . ALT: a man and a woman are dancing in a room with their hands in the air .

We've reached 2,000 follows! Thanks to our readers, authors, reviewers, editors, and of course @ucpress.bsky.social.

03.06.2025 13:29 — 👍 1    🔁 0    💬 0    📌 0
The Foundations of Russian StatehoodThe Pentabasis, National History, and Civic Values in Wartime Russia The content of Russian educational material on moral-cultural issues has gradually shifted over the Putin tenure toward a standard that emphasizes state patriotism, syncretic pride in the achievements...

Just Published in the June issue:

The Foundations of Russian Statehood: The Pentabasis, National History, and Civic Values in Wartime Russia
by Dima Kortukov and Jullian Waller

Free to access for one week.
doi.org/10.1525/cpcs...

03.06.2025 12:20 — 👍 1    🔁 0    💬 0    📌 0
Networked Public DiplomacyHow Public-Private Partnerships Have Played a Role in Securitizing Ukrainian Culture in Wartime, 2014–24 This article presents Ukraine’s securitization of culture in wartime (2014–24) through the development of cultural diplomacy activities, as a critical element of the country’s national security. It fo...

New in Advance Articles:

Networked Public Diplomacy: How Public-Private Partnerships Have Played a Role in Securitizing Ukrainian Culture in Wartime, 2014–24
by Gabriel Porc

doi.org/10.1525/cpcs...

02.06.2025 11:47 — 👍 1    🔁 1    💬 0    📌 0
Creating Good Young PatriotsRussian Youth Leaders on Telegram and the War against Ukraine This article investigates the role of two state youth group leaders in disseminating patriotic discourses to young Russians on Telegram in the first six months after the full-scale invasion of Ukraine...

New in Advance Articles:

Creating Good Young Patriots: Russian Youth Leaders on Telegram and the War against Ukraine
by Ian Garner and Allyson Edwards

doi.org/10.1525/cpcs...

30.05.2025 12:10 — 👍 1    🔁 1    💬 0    📌 0
Distributional Consequences of Political FreedomInequality in Transition Countries This article addresses the origins of income inequality in post-socialist countries from Central and Eastern Europe and Central Asia, from 1991 to 2016. The aim is to analyze the relationship between ...

New in Advance Articles:

Distributional Consequences of Political Freedom: Inequality in Transition Countries
by Monika Wesołowska, Sławomir Kuźmar, Bartosz Totleben, Dawid Piątek

doi.org/10.1525/cpcs...

30.05.2025 12:10 — 👍 2    🔁 1    💬 0    📌 0
Communist Social PolicyPension Policy in Bulgaria The introduction of a universal, egalitarian social security system was promoted by the USSR in all countries within its sphere of influence during the communist period. However, despite this rather u...

New in Advance Articles (Open Access):

Communist Social Policy: Pension Policy in Bulgaria
by Maria Ignatova-Pfarr and Carina Schmitt

doi.org/10.1525/cpcs...

29.05.2025 12:23 — 👍 2    🔁 2    💬 0    📌 0
Constitutional Amendments, Democratic Resilience, and the Threat of Political Regime ChangeThe Case of Slovakia Constitutional Law No. 422/2020, as published in the Collection of Laws (Coll.), effective January 1, 2021, prohibited the Constitutional Court of the Slovak Republic from reviewing the conformity of ...

New in Advance Articles:

Constitutional Amendments, Democratic Resilience, and the Threat of Political Regime Change: The Case of Slovakia
by Marián Sekerák

doi.org/10.1525/cpcs...

29.05.2025 12:21 — 👍 1    🔁 1    💬 0    📌 0
Witnessing the CrisisThe Political and Ethical Challenges of Migration Regime Activist Research at the Polish-Belarusian Border This article analyzes the epistemological and ethical challenges and difficulties of conducting research on the humanitarian crisis at the Polish-Belarusian border from the dual perspectives of the re...

New in Advance Articles:

Witnessing the Crisis: The Political and Ethical Challenges of Migration Regime Activist Research at the Polish-Belarusian Border Available
by Justyna Straczuk

doi.org/10.1525/cpcs...

28.05.2025 12:06 — 👍 1    🔁 1    💬 0    📌 0
Historical Analogies, Nuclear Mythmaking, and Coercive Diplomacy in Putin’s RussiaConjuring a “Sobering” Crisis Immediately before and during Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Russian foreign policy experts and high-ranking officials have often employed a historical analogy with the Cuban missile crisis ...

New in Advance Articles:

Historical Analogies, Nuclear Mythmaking, and Coercive Diplomacy in Putin’s Russia: Conjuring a “Sobering” Crisis Available
by Valentina Feklyunina

doi.org/10.1525/cpcs...

28.05.2025 12:05 — 👍 2    🔁 1    💬 0    📌 0
Elite Narratives and State Response to Kazakhstan’s Qandy Qantar Protests Weeks before Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Russian-led CSTO forces intervened in Kazakhstan’s January 2022 Qandy Qantar protests at the government’s request. Many observers predicted this i...

New in Advance Articles:

Elite Narratives and State Response to Kazakhstan’s Qandy Qantar Protests
by Hannah S. Chapman and Raushan Zhandayeva

doi.org/10.1525/cpcs...

27.05.2025 11:19 — 👍 2    🔁 2    💬 0    📌 0
The Language of the Witness, the Language of the ResearcherVerbal and Nonverbal Communication in “Emergency Research” When research is conducted involving the collection of testimonies from a wartime, emergency, or crisis situation, the language used by the witness and the researcher is particularly important. The re...

New in Advance Articles:

The Language of the Witness, the Language of the Researcher: Verbal and Nonverbal Communication in “Emergency Research”
by Katarzyna Jędraszczyk

doi.org/10.1525/cpcs...

27.05.2025 11:16 — 👍 2    🔁 1    💬 0    📌 0
Post image

✨Excited to share our research "Creating Good Young Patriots," which was published as an Advance Article in
@cpcs.bsky.social @irgarner.bsky.social!

🔗 online.ucpress.edu/cpcs/article...

22.05.2025 10:44 — 👍 12    🔁 4    💬 1    📌 1
Preview
Volume 58 Issue 2 | Communist and Post-Communist Studies | University of California Press

Watch this space for article highlights from the issue!
online.ucpress.edu/cpcs/issue/5...

09.05.2025 13:10 — 👍 0    🔁 0    💬 0    📌 0
Post image

The June issue is online early! With articles on legitimation, techno-populism, & bureaucratic support for war in Russia; Russian narratives on Ukraine in Japan; Polish NGOs response to full-scale war; grassroots mobilization in China; and an historical study of solidarity & Poland's market reforms.

09.05.2025 13:10 — 👍 10    🔁 1    💬 1    📌 1
Reframing ReflexivityCollaborative Ethics, Collective Responsibility, and Learnings from Researching Russia’s War against Ukraine This article critically examines the role of reflexivity in the study of wars, conflicts, and authoritarianism, drawing on insights gained from researching Russia’s war against Ukraine. While reflecti...

New in Advance Articles:

Reframing Reflexivity: Collaborative Ethics, Collective Responsibility, and Learnings from Researching Russia’s War against Ukraine
by Marnie Howlett (@marniehowlett.bsky.social) and Bohdana Kurylo (@bohdanakurylo.bsky.social)

doi.org/10.1525/cpcs...

24.04.2025 12:18 — 👍 5    🔁 2    💬 0    📌 0
Polyphonic PeaceThe 1989 World Festival of Youth and Students in Pyongyang Despite its monumental scale, the 1989 World Festival of Youth and Students in Pyongyang has received little scholarly attention. How did North Korea manage to entice thousands of foreign participants...

Recently published:

Polyphonic Peace: The 1989 World Festival of Youth and Students in Pyongyang
by Thomas Stock

Free to access for one week:

doi.org/10.1525/cpcs...

22.04.2025 12:05 — 👍 0    🔁 0    💬 0    📌 0
The Role of Polish United Workers’ Party (PZPR) Officials in the Investment ProcessThe Case of the Small-Engine Car Factory (FSM) in the Early 1970s In the 1960s and 1970s, Soviet bloc countries launched a number of automotive projects in cooperation with Western companies. One such initiative was the Small-Engine Car Factory (FSM) in Bielsko and ...

New in Advance Articles:

The Role of Polish United Workers’ Party (PZPR) Officials in the Investment Process: The Case of the Small-Engine Car Factory (FSM) in the Early 1970s
by Maciej Tymiński & Dariusz Standerski

doi.org/10.1525/cpcs...

17.04.2025 11:53 — 👍 0    🔁 0    💬 0    📌 0
Socialist RetrenchmentRural Healthcare Policies in China and Vietnam during the 1980s and 1990s Both China and Vietnam went through retrenchment in their rural healthcare systems during the 1980s and 1990s. However, there is a difference between the two in the depth of retrenchment. While China ...

New in the March issue:

Socialist Retrenchment: Rural Healthcare Policies in China and Vietnam during the 1980s and 1990s
by Yoel Kornreich

Free to access for one week:

doi.org/10.1525/cpcs...

15.04.2025 11:41 — 👍 4    🔁 1    💬 0    📌 0

@cpcs is following 20 prominent accounts