Difference between revisions of "Pokhorony okurka (Russia and USSR)"

| categories = [[:Category: Russia|Russia]] – [[:Category: FSU| FSU]] – [[:Category: Army| Army]] – [[:Category: Military| Military]] – [[:Category: Public service| Public service]] – [[:Category: Hierarchy| Hierarchy]] – [[:Category: Euphemism| Euphemism]] – [[:Category: Punishment| Punishment]] – [[:Category: Community| Community]]

| categories = [[:Category: Russia|Russia]] – [[:Category: FSU| FSU]] – [[:Category: Army| Army]] – [[:Category: Military| Military]] – [[:Category: Public service| Public service]] – [[:Category: Hierarchy| Hierarchy]] – [[:Category: Euphemism| Euphemism]] – [[:Category: Punishment| Punishment]] – [[:Category: Community| Community]]

| authorofpiece = Kirill Melnikov

| authorofpiece = Kirill Melnikov

| authorwebsite =

| authorwebsite =

}}

}}

[[Category: Informal governance]]

[[Category: Informal governance]]

[[Category: Lock-in effect]]

[[Category: Lock-in effect]]

[[Category: Punishment]]

[[Category: Punishment]]

[[Category: Community]]

[[Category: Community]]

[[Category: SSEES]]

[[Category: SSEES]]

[[Category: Alumni]]

[[Category: Alumni]]

[[File:Pokhorony_1.png.png|thumb|300px|left|link=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jwUqx_QyiPw&t=5s|The ceremony of ''pokhorony okurka'' at the military school. Source: [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCku9SP33tns9X5Njns0heHg Omega].]]

[[File:Pokhorony_1.png.png|thumb|300px|left|link=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jwUqx_QyiPw&t=5s|The ceremony of ''pokhorony okurka'' at the military school. Source: [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCku9SP33tns9X5Njns0heHg Omega].]]

In 1960s, veterans of the Second World War began retiring from commanding positions. During their tenure, they avoided hazing or punishment that could humiliate a soldier, because for war veterans, the question of mutual respect and a healthy atmosphere among soldiers was a matter of life and death. The veteran retirement coincided with a shortage of recruits caused by the losses of the USSR in the war. In order to compensate for demographic losses, the Politburo resorted to conscripting men with criminal backgrounds (Tutolmin 2007). This measure was introduced as a rehabilitation of former prisoners, but in fact, prison subculture saturated the army. The proliferation of informal disciplinary techniques was enhanced by the degradation of the system of sergeant education. After reducing conscription from three to two years in 1968, regimental schools for sergeants were abolished. As a result, any qualitative distinction between soldiers and sergeants was erased and posts for junior commanders began to be allotted to conscripts. The lack of competence of the new generation of sergeants and the continuous necessity to manage the army collective have brought to life informal ways of getting things done.  

In 1960s, veterans of the Second World War began retiring from commanding positions. During their tenure, they avoided hazing or punishment that could humiliate a soldier, because for war veterans, the question of mutual respect and a healthy atmosphere among soldiers was a matter of life and death. The veteran retirement coincided with a shortage of recruits caused by the losses of the USSR in the war. In order to compensate for demographic losses, the Politburo resorted to conscripting men with criminal backgrounds (Tutolmin 2007). This measure was introduced as a rehabilitation of former prisoners, but in fact, prison subculture saturated the army. The proliferation of informal disciplinary techniques was enhanced by the degradation of the system of sergeant education. After reducing conscription from three to two years in 1968, regimental schools for sergeants were abolished. As a result, any qualitative distinction between soldiers and sergeants was erased and posts for junior commanders began to be allotted to conscripts. The lack of competence of the new generation of sergeants and the continuous necessity to manage the army collective have brought to life informal ways of getting things done.  

[[File:Pokhorony_3.png.png|thumb|300px|left|link=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jxA2c4Ip1B0&t=1700s|Reflection of the practice of 'pokhorony okurka' in popular TV series 'Soldaty' (Soldiers). Source: [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCboOW_O3_4kRyetKDUQJdXQ  Сериалы. РЕН ТВ].]]

[[File:Pokhorony_3.png.png|thumb|300px|left|link=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jxA2c4Ip1B0&t=1700s|Reflection of the practice of 'pokhorony okurka' in popular TV series 'Soldaty' (Soldiers). Source: [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCboOW_O3_4kRyetKDUQJdXQ  Сериалы. РЕН ТВ].]]

The first reason is that applying informal punishment allows commanders to avoid responsibility. The formal penalty requires proof that a soldier had committed misconduct, as stated in the Disciplinary Bylaw (81). If misconduct lacks proof, the commander himself can become subject to investigation. Informal punishment allows superior officers to circumvent this hazardous procedure and to disguise punishment as a physical exercise.

The first reason is that applying informal punishment allows commanders to avoid responsibility. The formal penalty requires proof that a soldier had committed misconduct, as stated in the Disciplinary Bylaw (81). If misconduct lacks proof, the commander himself can become subject to investigation. Informal punishment allows superior officers to circumvent this hazardous procedure and to disguise punishment as a physical exercise.

Informal punishment is a natural element of total institutions. As long as the army retains the basic features of total institutions, practices of informal punishment will persist. An all-volunteer military can significantly limit the scope of such practices since it disrupts the central feature of total institutions – the inability to choose where, when and how to work, to sleep and to relax.

Informal punishment is a natural element of total institutions. As long as the army retains the basic features of total institutions, practices of informal punishment will persist. An all-volunteer military can significantly limit the scope of such practices since it disrupts the central feature of total institutions – the inability to choose where, when and how to work, to sleep and to relax.