Current Research Projects: Watson

Principal investigator	Derek Watson
Institutional affiliation	Centre for Russian and East European Studies, University of Birmingham
Other investigators	Oleg Khlevniuk, GARF Mme. S.V. Somonova GARF Mme. L.N. Malushenko RGASPI
Title of project	The Institutions and Process of Government of the USSR during the Great Patriotic War
Starting date	December 2001
Sources of funding	Arts & Humanities Research Board
Brief description	This project aims to provide an account and explanation of the work and changes in central government in the USSR during the Great Patriotic War. It aims to: study the development and functioning of GKO examine the work of Sovnarkom assess the position of central Party bodies, especially the Politburo and Central Committee, testing the hypothesis that the importance of the Party was reduced use this empirical work to theorise on the nature of Soviet government in wartime and on Stalinism
Results available?	Working papers will be disseminated in due course.

Principal investigator	Derek Watson
Institutional affiliation	Centre for Russian and East European Studies, University of Birmingham
Title of project	V.M. Molotov – a biography
Starting date	1996
Sources of funding	Leverhulme Trust, and British Academy
Brief description	A political and personal biography of Molotov. The study will include sections on his career as a revolutionary, his role in domestic politics under Lenin, Stalin and Khrushchev, and work as commissar/minister for foreign affairs 1939-49 and 1953–6. Material on his private life, relations with his family, wife and as a pensioner will be included.
Results available?	Go to index of Publications

Principal investigator	Derek Watson
Institutional affiliation	Centre for Russian and East European Studies, University of Birmingham
Other investigators	S.V. Somonova (GARF, Moscow)
Title of project	A database of Soviet government decrees, 1930–1945
Starting date	1991
Sources of funding	British Academy
Brief description	The project aims to provide a computer listing of the title, date, reference numbers, signatories and classification of subject matter of the decrees of Sovnarkom and its main subcommissions, 1930–1945
Results available?	Contact Derek Watson for access to provisional outcomes

Research in Former Soviet Archives on Issues of Historical Political Economy