Communist Party Members and the Village Air: Political Distrust and the Structure of Surveillance in the 1945-1960s

Communist Party Members and the Village Air: Political Distrust and the Structure of Surveillance in the 1945-1960s

In the 1945-1960s, from the period of postwar turmoil to the eve of rapid economic growth, involvement in the Communist Party was considered dangerous in local society. When a young man sympathized with the Communist Party and began making speeches and distributing leaflets, the villagers gossiped that he was being watched by the state and kept their distance. His talk of "justice" and "equality" were seen as rather annoying sparks, and concern about police action spread through the community. In the background are memories of state surveillance and exclusion, such as the prewar security laws, the culture of snitching during the war, and the postwar Red Purge. Those involved in politics were equated with the "yakuza," and elections were governed by a collusive system in which "one should follow the leading figures in the village. Even though democracy was proclaimed on paper, free speech and thought tended to be suppressed in the actual local communities. The youth were isola
ted in this contradiction, and to hold on to political beliefs was considered an act of disobedience to the communal order.