PRACTICES OF INTERNATIONAL EDUCATION IN THE CONTEXT OF FORMATION OF SOVIET IDENTITY IN THE LATE SOVIET PERIOD (ON THE EXAMPLE OF THE TATAR ASSR)

Abstract

The article deals with forms, methods and ideological content of the work on international education and the dissemination of knowledge in national and international policies of USSR in the late 1970s-1980s. The main findings are based on studying Soviet, Russian and foreign literature, containing a variety of methodological approaches, as well as on studying normative documents and a wide range of archival documents. Based on the analysis of ideas and international upbringing practices we came to a conclusion that the large-scale project of international education in the USSR included the distribution of knowledge on foreign and inner policy of the state, instilling belief in the humanistic nature of these policies and involving people in international activities, through the inclusion of international practices in labor activity. However, the duality of objectives of international education was shown: on the one hand, they proclaimed the equality of all peoples of the USSR and the full support of peace initiatives, on the other hand, they declared the need for creation a unified community of the Soviet people under the leadership of the Russian people, as well as the formation of readiness to defend Homeland and the struggle against imperialism. This duality caused controversy in the minds of citizens, and led to the need to move away from the field of official propaganda. The negative impact on the implementation of international upbringing practice was that even in the late 1980s public organizations for distribution of knowledge were unable to give an independent coverage of national and international problems and to neutralize the ideological component in their work.