Current Activities

Dr. Elena Osokina is currently working on her new book entitled “Torgsin”. The study reveals the unknown story of Soviet industrialization and everyday life by exploring the role of the state stores, Torgsin (1931-36), which during the lean years of Stalin’s industrialization sold food and goods to the Soviet people at inflated prices in exchange for foreign currency, gold, silver and diamonds. Torgsin became an important source of gold for Stalin to finance industrialization and the major strategy for survival for people during those harsh times. The study enriches our understanding of Stalinism, the workings of the Soviet economy, the nature of Soviet everyday life and consumerism. In 2005 the National Endowment for the Humanities granted to Dr. Elena Osokina a fellowship to finish her work on “Torgsin”.