Paper abstract:

The paper discusses the Soviet propaganda among in Xinjiang in the 1950-1960s, which played the role of pushing factor in the migration stimulating migratory moods of the population. The Soviet propaganda machine included documentary films and movies demonstrated in the cinema clubs across the province, especially in the neighboring to Kazakhstan districts, magazines and newspapers published in Soviet Central Asian republics in the Uyghur and Kazakh languages in Arabic script, as well as books and textbooks for Xinjiang readers printed in the publishing houses, such as “Qazaq eli” (Alma-Ata) and “Sherq heqiqeti” (Tashkent). Repertoire of the films, movies, periodicals and books was formed with the aim to propagate the Soviet achievements describing the life in the Soviet Union as a paradise. The Soviet propaganda was supported by positive and very often praising materials on Soviet industrial, technological and agricultural successes published in the Chinese press during the early years of the Communist rule when “great eternal Sino-Soviet friendship” was a main priority for the Communist Party of China. Discussion of the role of the Soviet propaganda in pushing migration to Soviet Kazakhstan will be based on the oral stories collected during the project as well as other materials.