5 ms·
USSR had multiple classes (despite being a classless society on paper). Nomenklatura ([1]) and some other smaller classes had access to western press and were
by krasin 5y ago
USSR had multiple classes (despite being a classless society on paper).
Nomenklatura ([1]) and some other smaller classes had access to western press and were often allowed to travel to the "capitalist countries". Even at home, they had access to special stores for foreigners and elite paying a special currency that regular Soviet citizens didn't have ([2]) to purchase Western goods. They watched Bond movies and wanted to read reviews as well.
That said, all of my relatives were regulars. I don't miss USSR.
1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nomenklatura https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nomenklatura
2. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beryozka_(Russian_retail_store) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beryozka_(Russian_retail_store...
- lstodd 5y agoYou forgot to mention фарцовка, which was essentially a grass-roots sort of a fix to this quasi-unofficial class divide. There isn't even an en wikipedia article about it, while it had a order or two of magnitude larger turnover than Beryozka shops and "распределители". I so do not miss this all, but it seems to come back right now most anywhere.
- krasin 5y agoOh, yes. A thousand times yes. (that said, фарцовка was less prevalent in smaller cities than Moscow / Leningrad)
- stavros 5y agohttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fartsovka https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fartsovka
- adolph 5y agoSee also samizdat https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samizdat https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samizdat
- aasasd 5y agoThat's some pretty weird phrasing and formating. The entire article was rewritten by one user in June—not extended, for no discernible reason. Judging by the user's page, they regularly contribute extensive-ishly, and plan to continue doing so. Meanwhile it seems they could use an editor who would clean up after them.
- deleted 5y ago[deleted]
- nzmsv 5y agoThere is also a pretty well-made show on this topic, and it's even on Netflix: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fartsa_(TV_series) https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fartsa_(TV_series)
- 908B64B197 5y agoInterestingly, it's still the case in modern communist countries such as Venezuella or Cuba. There's a paralel economy that's almost always underground with a paralel exchange rate using a real currency (the US dollar). In Cuba, if you aren't good enough to become a taxi driver (and maybe get a tip in US dollars from a foreigner) your next best bet is to clean hotel rooms. Then for those who failed at both, it's to become a doctor. Fascinating societies.