Demographic Catastrophes as a Factor of Transformation of the Peasant Family in Russia in the First Half of the 20th Century

Abstract

This article analyses the\xa0impact of\xa0demographic disasters of\xa0the\xa0first half of\xa0the\xa020 th century on\xa0the\xa0size, structure, and functions of\xa0the\xa0peasant family and the\xa0features of\xa0its demographic transition. The\xa0author considers the\xa0concept of\xa0a\xa0demographic catastrophe, its quantitative and qualitative criteria, mechanisms of\xa0influence on\xa0demographic processes, structure, functions of\xa0the\xa0family, and family-marriage behaviour. It is noted that due to objective and subjective reasons, the\xa0rural population turned out to be the\xa0most affected by demographic disasters. The evolution of\xa0the\xa0peasant family is studied with reference to budget statistics, i.e. budget surveys of\xa0Ural peasant households between 1928 and 1929. The\xa0State Archive of\xa0Sverdlovsk Region has kept the\xa0primary forms of\xa0budget surveys that were used as\xa0a\xa0basis for the\xa0database reflecting the\xa0characteristics of\xa0the\xa0peasant family development in\xa0the\xa0first third of\xa0the\xa020 th century. Additionally, the\xa0author relies on\xa0the\xa0data of\xa0the\xa0all-Union population censuses of\xa01926, 1937 and 1939, which make it possible to conduct a\xa0comparative analysis of\xa0various types of\xa0sources and assess their reliability. The study of\xa0quantitative and qualitative characteristics of\xa0the\xa0peasant family make it possible to conclude that demographic catastrophes had an\xa0ambiguous effect on\xa0family processes: on\xa0the\xa0one hand, they accelerated the\xa0demographic transition from a\xa0complex multi-generation family to a\xa0nuclear one, and on\xa0the\xa0other, they contributed to the\xa0preservation of\xa0many traditional features of\xa0the\xa0family organisation. Together with gender and age disproportions in\xa0the\xa0structure of\xa0the\xa0rural population and the\xa0revival of\xa0traditional family relations in\xa0the\xa0peasant environment, new patterns of\xa0marriage behaviour and family structure are typical of\xa0the\xa0final stage of\xa0the\xa0demographic transition.