The Connection between Power and the People in the Mari, Mordovian and Chuvash ASSR in the mid-1950s – 1980s (On the Example of the Councils of Ministers of Autonomous Republics)

Introduction. This article describes the feedback between the Soviet people and executive authorities of the autonomous republics from the mid-1950s to the 1980s on the example of activities of the Councils of Ministers of the Mari, Mordovian and Chuvash Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republics. The research focuses on the reaction of the Councils of Ministers and their subordinate bodies to letters, received from citizens. Materials and Methods. The study was based on materials of the State Archive of the Republic of Mari El, the State Historical Archive of the Chuvash Republic, and the Central State Archive of the Republic of Mordovia. In the work were used the content analysis, the concrete historical, the historical-systematic and the historical-comparative methods based on the on the fundamental principles of historical study – historicism, objectivity, systemacity. Results. The most common form of everyday communication between the Councils of Ministers of ASSR and the society was the submission by citizens of applications, appeals and petitions, which raised the various issues. The analysis of the activities of the Councils of Ministers of the Autonomous Republics revealed problems related with the consideration of citizens’ appeals. The reaction of the Councils of Ministers to criticism of shortcomings in the organization of accounting for incoming letters, control of subordinate authorities, as well as the personal reception of citizens is considered. The most pressing issues with which Soviet people appealed to regional governments were identified. Discussion and Conclusions. Despite significant shortcomings in the system of consideration of complaints and appeals of citizens, the Councils of Ministers, as the central bodies of state administration of the republics, as a whole performed a number of important communicative functions between the government and society. The following are the most basic points: 1) the citizens had the opportunity to solve various everyday, social, economic issues using the appeal to the authorities; 2) the regional authorities received representations about the problems of concern to the Soviet people, so that timely action could be taken; 3) Councils of Ministers of ASSR and subordinate bodies acted as a link between the people “on the ground” and the highest authorities.