The Food Crisis in Soviet Karelia in the Early 1920s

Abstract

In the context of global political instability and economic fluctuations, crisis management is an integral part of public administration both in Russia and abroad. The ability of a state to promptly identify impending crises and take steps towards its resolution is something that cannot be realized without taking into account the lessons of the past. Contemporary statesmen and politicians often refer to the experience of the Soviet era. Activities of Soviet authorities during the crises have always remained an important subject of discussion among Russian historians. The Karelian Labour Commune (later the Autonomous Karelian Socialist Soviet Republic) was an autonomous association within the RSFSR. As a result, researchers’ interest in Soviet Karelia was less than in the history of the Union republics. The number of scientific works devoted to the formation of public administration in Soviet Karelia is quite small. The article examines the measures taken by state authorities to combat the food crisis in Soviet Karelia in the early 1920s. The causes of the crisis are analyzed, which included shortage of bread, systemic problems in food supplies, and internal political and economic instability in the region. The article pays attention to the social consequences of the crisis — unrests, strikes and migration of part of population to Finland. As a result, it is concluded that despite the massive unrest of Karelian population and frequent appeals of leadership of Karelian Labour Commune to the center for help, measures aimed at overcoming food shortage as soon as possible were insufficient and ineffective. The food crisis in Soviet Karelia arose as a result of complex of economic, social, geographical and political factors: the consequences of civil war, economic turmoil, famine, proximity to Soviet–Finnish border, etc. The involvement of the People’s Commissar of Foreign Affairs in solving the crisis highlights international aspect of the problem.