Assoc. Prof. Dr. Astrid Hedin 

My project draws on new historical research to set up an abstract theoretical model, focused on how the communist welfare state supported authoritarian rule. Through this intervention, the project aims to help re-direct scientific inquiry to the unique, authoritarian aspects of Soviet-type welfare states. Traditionally, the communist welfare state has been interpreted as a social contract, where the population tolerated authoritarianism thanks to the social benefits, which were assumed to be universal, i.e., equal for everyone, made available based on rules, and administrated by an impartial state administration. However, emerging studies suggest that in practice many social policies, such as access to higher education, better housing, coveted vacation spots, special pensions, and privileged access to consumer goods, were selective and granted on grounds of political loyalty. Despite this new historical research, the lack of appropriate theoretical frameworks has perpetuated misleading comparisons with Western welfare states. In effect, the communist welfare state is still widely interpreted as a version of Scandinavian social democracy minus the democracy. The proposed project seeks to remedy this state of affairs. By drawing up a new abstract model, I will contribute the analytical tools to direct and assist scientific inquiry into the unique aspects of the Soviet-type welfare state, its’ Leninist goals, and the unique organization of its welfare state.