Book Discussion: The Everyday and Private Life of a Communist Ruling Class: Greed and Creed, by György Péteri

Session Submission Type: Roundtable

Brief Description

We will be discussing the new book by György Péteri, The Everyday and Private Life of a Communist Ruling Class: Greed and Creed. He offers a rare inside view of family life among elite party officials. Contrary to the usual assumption that high ranking party officials wallowed in luxury, we learn that influential party officials and their families lived a rather Spartan existence at home. This was invisible to the public, who only saw „big wigs” being chauffered around town in big cars and heard about hunting trips in the countryside. Péteri chronicles the slow shift away from a strict socialist politics by describing the regime’s increasing tolerance of consumerism, particularly in relation to the private ownership of cars and the expanding opportunities for leisure and vacation packages. The discussants on the panel will be Melissa Feinberg, John Connelly, Máté Rigó and Martha Lampland. György Péteri will respond to the comments and criticisms raised by the discussants.

Sub Unit

• History: 1945-1990

Chair

• Martha Lampland, UC San Diego

Roundtable Members

• John F. Connelly, UC Berkeley

• Melissa Feinberg, Rutgers, The State U of New Jersey

• Mate Rigo, Ludwig-Maximilians-U Munich (Germany)