Oriental Studies (Dec 2020)
Resisting the Increase of Crime, 1960s – Mid-1980s: Impact of Bashkiria-Based Voluntary People’s Guards
Abstract
Introduction. In the 1960s – mid-1980s, in the face of an increase in crime, the state transferred some law enforcement and domestic security functions to the public. Activities of public organizations — voluntary people’s guards (Russ. DND) — contributed to countering the growth of crime and delinquency in the country. Despite the availability of scientific papers dealing with activities of the DND in the indicated years nationwide, the regional aspect of the issue remains understudied. DNDs were further developed in the post-Soviet period, which confirms their efficiency and significance. Goals. The paper seeks to analyze activities of voluntary people’s guards in the 1960s – mid1980s. For this, a number of objectives be tackled, such as to consider the dynamics of their development, analyze forms of countering the growth of offenses in Bashkiria in the indicated years, state policy towards this public organization. Materials. The article primarily investigates materials and documents deposited in the National Archive of Bashkortostan which contains valuable information thereto, including about the system of measures aimed at combating the growth of offenses. Methods. The work employs the historical-genetic method which made it possible to examine the dynamics of development and structural changes in the DND. The analysis of archival documents and materials involves the principles of objectivity and historicism, and that of scientificity, which proves instrumental in exploring the topic in certain historical backgrounds. Results. The period under consideration witnessed the creation of a network of voluntary people’s guards as an auxiliary organization designed to combat the growth of crime and delinquency in Bashkiria. The squads were controlled by authorities and grew to become a powerful law enforcement institution. Moreover, those facilitated further legal education of Soviet citizens. DNDs and order control agencies did prove efficient in reducing the level of offenses. The paper concludes the involvement of ordinary citizens in law and order protection activities was determined by the then increasing criminalization of society and flaws in the order and safety system. Party and state bodies were thus forced to initiate and support the movement.
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