Atheist Propaganda in the Buryat ASSR: Evolution and Outcomes (Late 1960s–Early 1990s)

Nowadays, the question of the mechanisms and methods of implementing religious policy is acquiring particular importance not only for understanding historical experience, but also for understanding the specifics of the contemporary religious situation. The aim of this study is to trace the evolution of atheistic propaganda in Buryatia during the Soviet period, using data obtained from previously unpublished archival materials. To achieve this aim, the study sets the following objectives: 1. To identify the stages of atheistic propaganda in Buryatia; 2. To clarify the structural and organizational aspects associated with its implementation; 3. To describe the forms and methods of its implementation; 4. To establish the connection between the evolution of these forms and methods with a) the ideological priorities of state policy and b) the results of atheistic propaganda. The study materials were archival data from the State Archives of the Russian Federation, the Russian State Archive of SocioPolitical History, and the State Archives of the Republic of Buryatia, documenting the activities of key institutions responsible for implementing atheistic policy. The methodology is based on a comprehensive systemic approach, combining comparative-historical and retrospective methods with elements of hermeneutic analysis. As a result, the evolution of atheistic propaganda in Buryatia is reconstructed. Two main stages are distinguished: the period of "late socialism" (the second half of the 1960s - the first half of the 1980s) and the period of "perestroika" (the early 1990s onward). It was revealed that the main tasks of atheistic propaganda in Buryatia were carried out by authorized representatives of the Council for Religious Affairs under the Council of Ministers of the USSR, members of the Buryat branch of the "Znanie" society and representatives of the All-Union "Znanie" society, employees of the Buryat support center of the Institute of Scientific Atheism of the Academy of Social Sciences under the Central Committee of the CPSU, as well as the commission for assistance in compliance with legislation on religious cults. The forms and methods of conducting atheistic propaganda during the "late socialism" period were quite heavily bureaucratized; Emphasis was placed on systemic oversight of the activities of religious associations. Atheism was one of the central components of Soviet religious policy, with lectures serving as the primary form of propaganda. During this period, the establishment of a regional branch of the Institute of Scientific Atheism of the Academy of Social Sciences under the CPSU Central Committee and its support centers was noteworthy; the work of the CPSU Central Committee's lecture group (international lecturers) played a significant role. These institutions demonstrate a commitment to deepening the scientific component of propaganda. In turn, the policy of perestroika provided impetus for changes in the Soviet model of state-confessional relations toward liberalization and democratization, although these processes were not immediately felt at the regional level. Atheism persisted in the activities of regional government bodies, with lectures remaining its key form. However, the emphasis gradually shifted to holding events that brought together government officials, scholars, and religious figures in the format of academic conferences. Despite extensive efforts, Soviet mechanisms of atheistic propaganda failed to achieve their primary goal — the elimination of religiosity among the population of the USSR. Further research into these processes, using unique regional archival materials, could shed light on the real complexities of changing the population's values under the influence of ideological attitudes. A key contribution here should be the study of the narratives circulating in this regard, both among the population and within the academic community.

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