Citation

Mark Harrison, "You Have Been Warned: The KGB and Profilaktika in Soviet Lithuania." PERSA Working Paper no. 62. Original version received October 12, 2010. University of Warwick, Department of Economics. Available free of charge from http://go.warwick.ac.uk/persa.

Corresponding author: mark.harrison@warwick.ac.uk.

Abstract

This paper provides a preliminary view of the KGB’s work to prevent the spread of subversive ideas and behaviors in Soviet Lithuania in the 1970s, based on the technique of “profilaktika,” or preventive warnings. The paper considers the rationale, mode of operation, scope, and effectiveness of preventive warnings. The paper is short, because it is based on a first impression of extensive documentation. I have no intention to write a longer version. Rather, I hope the paper may attract other scholars to work on this fascinating and important subject.