“Vozhatyi” in Soviet magazines for Pioneers in 1920–1930s: Ideological concept and fictional representation

Abstract

The subject of the article is the concept of “vozhatyi” (“a guide”). From 1922 “ vozhatyi” is a position in the Young Pioneer organization of the Soviet Union that, in terms of the scouting system, is close to a Patrol leader and, at the same time, a Scout-master. The key resources of the article are Soviet magazines for Pioneers (frst of all, “Vozhatyi” and “Vozhak”). The Pioneer organization arose out of the practice of scouting, but the new Pioneer practice created some absolutely new categories and social roles. “Vozhatyi” is a clear product of this process. “Vozhatyi” is a notion that includes associations with self-government and spontaneous leadership, but, on the other hand, it also implies an idea of a connection with external authorities. This fact was very important in the context of constructing the Pioneer organization that tried to declare itself a representative of children's self-government, but at the same time tried to be strongly obedient to Komsomol and the Communist Party. Thus, the word “vozhatyi” could change its key connotations in different political and social contexts. For example, there is a defnite shift in meaning from “vozhatyi” as a children's leader, taking part in Pioneers' self-governing (in the 1920s), to “vozhatyi” as someone older who links children to the Communist authorities (in the 1930s).