Gulag: A History

Explore the evolution of the Gulag system from its inception under Lenin through its expansion under Stalin and eventual decline in the post-Stalin era. How did shifts in Soviet leadership and political ideology affect the operation and justification of the labor camps?

Examine the psychological and social effects of the Gulag on prisoners. What were some of these effects? How did various prisoners respond to these effects in different ways?

Discuss the experiences of women and children in the Gulag. What unique challenges did they face? How does their story alter or deepen our understanding of life within the camps?

Investigate the theme of resistance within the Gulag system. What forms did resistance take, both large and small? How does Applebaum explore the persistence of prisoners’ agency and dignity within the camps?

Reflect on the historical and moral responsibilities of memorializing the Gulag’s victims. How have contemporary Russia and other former Soviet states approached the task of commemorating this dark chapter of their history? What challenges do they face in doing so?

Assess the role of international attention, particularly from the West, in the plight of Gulag prisoners, especially during the era of the dissidents. How did external pressures influence Soviet policies regarding political prisoners?

Consider the literary depiction of the Gulag in Soviet and post-Soviet literature. How have authors such as Alexander Solzhenitsyn and Varlam Shalamov contributed to our understanding of the camps? What do literary depictions offer that more straightforward historical data do not?

Analyze the legal framework and justification for arrests and detentions in the Soviet Union, such as Article 58. What does this legal approach reveal about the nature of Soviet authority and governance?