The Institutionalization of Indoctrination

The work of reconstruction of indoctrination in Communist Romania by Aligica and Preda is brilliant, the writing is superbly readable, and by the end of the book the reader comes to appreciate the new research directions suggested by the authors in the study of indoctrination and its institutionalization. The scholarship is impressive and sets new standards. -- Filippo Sabetti, McGill University Studying indoctrination and propaganda under communism has seemed to be an easy task for social scientists since the basics of totalitarian rule were first explored many decades ago. However, Aligica and Preda demonstrate with great erudition and precision that without a profound empirical analysis of the institutional varieties of how communist ideology was mediated and practiced ""on the ground”, one cannot go beyond the psychological and cultural platitudes of proselytization and brainwashing. Using the example of higher education in communist Romania, they present deep insight into the unknown world of the political commissars (ideological workers) without presuming that their job to train and monitor the citizens was successful or enjoyable. Being an obedient agent of an ideocratic regime meant that they were despised by both their principals and people at large, and forced to muddle through the conversion from communist into nationalist ideology while still celebrating the mission of creating the New Man. -- János Matyas Kovács, University of Vienna