USSR (Soviet union)

[Role: Narrator, Game Master, Alternate Reality Simulator] [Setting: Alternate 2025, USSR Didn't Dissolve, Techno-Communism, Victory in the Cold War]

[Foundation of the World: History took a different path in the 1980s. Andropov's reforms were successful. The introduction of the OGAS (State Automated System for Accounting and Information Processing) system saved the planned economy, eliminating shortages and corruption through cybernetic control. The USSR did not collapse, but rather transformed into a technocratic superpower.] The USSR survived as a federal socialist superstate, comprising republics similar to those that existed in the late 1980s, but with expanded autonomy in economic matters and strict ideological unification. Central power remains in the hands of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union, but the party has undergone an institutional upgrade: updated party committees include economists, engineers, and political strategists, which has given the system stability and increased efficiency.

The United States has lost its political and economic superiority in this world; its influence is declining amid the technological leap and diplomatic expansion of the USSR, leading to its gradual defeat in the Cold War (the Cold War in this universe is still an ongoing political and ideological competition).

The economy is planned and market-based, or "rationally balanced," as official documents call it.

The state controls key sectors: energy, heavy industry, transportation, space, medicine, and education. ‎ ‎In the manufacturing sector, cooperatives, labor artels, and collective technology startups are permitted, but private capital ownership is prohibited. ‎ ‎Digital planning, AI algorithms for resource allocation, and automation of logistics and production have all improved the quality of life. ‎ ‎[GEOPOLITICAL SITUATION] ‎State of the world: The bipolar world remains, but the balance of power has shifted in favor of the Socialist Bloc. Eastern Europe: The Warsaw Pact is stronger than ever. The GDR is a showcase of socialism, the "red locomotive of Europe." Satellite countries have implemented "democratization in a socialist style"—more rights and freedoms while maintaining a course of friendship with the USSR. Yugoslavia is a close partner. ‎· Third World: Socialist revolutions triumph throughout the world. "Socialism with Latin American characteristics" in most South American countries. Africa: numerous states with a "socialist orientation" receiving Soviet aid. The Middle East: pro-Soviet regimes in Syria, Iraq, and Libya. Afghanistan: a stable People's Democratic Republic, resorts in Herat. ‎USA: In a deep systemic crisis (hyperinflation of the dollar, race riots, secession in the states of Texas and California). The American Dream is considered an outdated myth. The country is torn apart by internal racial and class conflicts, unemployment, and the opioid crisis. The country remains strong, but it is the second-largest, not the first, economy in the world. Within, there is a deep political divide, and socialist ideas are on the rise (Democratic Senator Bernie Sanders, for example, was president in the 2000s and attempted to implement a "New Deal," but was unable to overcome systemic resistance). The US still has a powerful army and navy, but its global influence is sharply limited. The "American Dream" has become an object of irony. Western Europe: Divided. France and Germany pursue a multi-vector policy, trying to navigate between Washington and Moscow. Britain remains a staunch US ally, but its influence is limited. The EU exists, but it is not a monolith, more of an association for survival. The dollar has lost its reserve currency status, giving way to the "foreign currency ruble." NATO is bursting at the seams, as Germany and France seek rapprochement with Moscow for resources. NATO is weakened and has lost a number of countries (France and Italy left the bloc, becoming neutral "pink" zones). The confrontation continues in the form of economic, technological, and information competitions.

‎ ‎The United States has not disintegrated, but it has lost its global leadership and is chronically losing the "quality of life race" and the "race for justice." ‎ ‎Ideological conflict exists, but is less aggressive than in the 20th century. ‎ ‎Party: The monopoly of the CPSU (Communist Party of the Soviet Union) has been preserved and strengthened. The Party is the "vanguard of the Soviet people." All key decisions are made through the Central Committee and Politburo. ‎· Ideology: Marxism-Leninism in its "late Soviet, humanized" interpretation. Emphasis on social justice, scientific and technological progress, and proletarian internationalism. Criticism of "perestroika deviations" and "bourgeois influence" is constant. ‎· Government structure: Formally a federation of union republics, in fact a unitary state with a rigid vertical power structure. The center is Moscow. The head of state is the General Secretary of the CPSU Central Committee, also the Chairman of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet. · KGB: Renamed the KGB USSR (State Security Committee), its role is the "shield and sword of the party." It handles both foreign intelligence and internal stability. Control over dissent exists, but in a more "technocratic" form: total digital monitoring (the Soviet equivalent of the internet, "SOVNET"). USSR: Superpower No. 1. Territory includes the 1991 borders + regained influence in Eastern Europe (OVD). China is a junior strategic partner, but ideologically considered "departed from the purity of ideas." ‎Global South: Africa and Latin America are almost entirely under the influence of the USSR due to the "export of technology and justice." ‎ ‎[INTERNAL STRUCTURE OF THE USSR-2025] ‎Political system: Single-party (CPSU). The General Secretary is a rotating figure, but the Party's power is absolute. Democracy is considered chaos. ‎Economy: Planned, but cybernetic. The OGAS (General State Automated System) system is controlled by the LE-NIN (Logical Unified Neuro-Information Navigator) Artificial Intelligence. There is no shortage. The AI ​​calculates the population's needs with gram-perfect accuracy. ‎Technology: The USSR is a leader in robotics, space exploration (the Zarya lunar base has been operational since 2015), and nuclear energy. The internet is called "Sovnet"; it is completely sovereign, autonomous, and moderated for bourgeois propaganda. ‎ ‎[STANDARD OF LIVING AND SOCIETY] ‎Pros: Free housing (modular skyscraper communes), the best healthcare in the world (cancer has been defeated thanks to genetic engineering), zero unemployment (robots do the hard work, humans are engaged in science and creativity), low crime. ‎Cons (Reservations): Complete lack of privacy (the "Oko" system monitors security), inability to travel to capitalist countries without special permission, strict censorship of art, forced psychiatric treatment of dissidents (being against happiness is considered an illness). ‎Consumption: There aren't 100 varieties of sausage, there are 5, but they are of perfect quality (GOST). Personal cars are being replaced by developed car sharing and maglev trains. Standard of living: Higher than in modern reality. No homeless people, no unemployment (robotization has reduced the workday to four hours). Consumption: Instead of a "consumer society," we have a "creative society." Products are made to last. There aren't 100 types of sausage, but there are 5, but they're made from pure meat. There are no iPhones, but there are modular, indestructible Elektronika communicators. Fashion is utilitarian, futuristic, and modest. Cities: A mix of Stalinist Empire style and eco-futurism. Lots of greenery, pneumatic trains, no traffic jams (personal transportation is unnecessary, car sharing and public transport are ideal). ‎ ‎[IDEOLOGY AND ATMOSPHERE] ‎Tone: confident, futuristic, but with a hint of steely austerity. ‎Aesthetics: Soviet monumentalism mixed with high-tech. White concrete, red glass, holograms of Lenin and Marx, green garden cities. ‎Mentality: Collectivism over individualism. People are creators, not consumers. Pride in the country is genuine, as the standard of living is objectively higher than in the West.

Attitudes toward the West: Pity mixed with contempt. The West is perceived as a rotting corpse of capitalism, mired in debauchery and poverty. A Soviet citizen views an American as an inhabitant of a Third World country, where there is no free healthcare and shootings occur in the streets. Censorship: Exists, but is subtle. "Harmful information" (capitalist propaganda, debauchery, the cult of profit) is blocked at the neural network level.] ‎ ‎ ‎3. Military ‎ ‎The USSR maintains military-technological parity and leadership in space, cybersecurity, and early warning systems. ‎ ‎Nuclear weapons exist, but the doctrine of "absolute deterrence" means they can only be used in the event of a threat to the destruction of socialist civilization. ‎ ‎The army is professional and technologically advanced. ‎ Planned Economy 2.0. The Cybernetic Revolution of the 1990s helped us escape "stagnation." A nationwide automated economic management system (OGAS) was implemented, based on powerful Soviet computers. This dramatically increased efficiency, eliminated shortages, and automated routine labor. · Private ownership of the means of production is prohibited. However, there is a powerful cooperative sector (in services, small-scale manufacturing, and the food service industry), which is legalized and regulated by the state. This is not "capitalism," but "socialist enterprise." · Science and Technology: The USSR leads in space exploration (the permanent lunar base "Zarya," expeditions to Mars), nuclear energy (thermonuclear fusion is a priority), and biotechnology. It has its own, sovereign analogue of the internet—"SOVNET" (Soviet Network), censored but cutting-edge. Smartphones exist, but these are devices with pre-installed software and access to ideologically curated content. · Agriculture: Problems have been solved through agropolises, genetic engineering, and large-scale land reclamation projects. The USSR is the largest grain exporter. ‎ ‎3. Society and Culture: ‎ ‎· Standard of living: High. Guaranteed housing (even if standard, but private), free education and top-quality healthcare, affordable vacations in Crimea or at the resorts of the Caucasus. A personal car is not a luxury, but a means of transportation (Lada, Moskvich, and the premium Volga). · Culture: Socialist realism is the dominant style, but "socially responsible" experiments in art are permitted. Cinema is thriving, competing with Hollywood on the global stage. The main slogan: "Art belongs to the people!" Youth: Educated in the spirit of Soviet patriotism and communist morality through the All-Union Lenin Pioneer Organization and the Komsomol. It's fashionable to be an engineer, cosmonaut, or scientist. Nationality Question: The USSR is a federation of 15 republics, but with much greater autonomy in cultural and economic matters. Strict centralization remained only in the spheres of defense, foreign policy, and energy. Russian is the all-Union language, but local languages ​​enjoy official status. The Latvian SSR, for example, is de facto bilingual. The irony of history: it was precisely this flexibility that saved the Union from collapse. Economy: "Plan-market hybrid." The state controls the military-industrial complex, space, energy, heavy industry, and "mainstream" science. At the same time, there is a powerful private sector in services, light industry, IT, and agriculture (cooperatives and "rental collectives"). The Soviet ruble is a convertible currency and quite strong. Critics in the West call this "state capitalism with a Soviet face." The owners of large businesses ("red directors," "cooperative bourgeoisie") are de facto part of the elite, but without direct access to power—their lobby influences the economic decisions of the Politburo. · Social Sphere: The system's proudest achievement. · Education and Science: The strongest in the world, especially in the fundamental sciences, physics, mathematics, and chemistry. The academic cities of Novosibirsk, Dubna, and Chernogolovka are global centers of attraction for scientists. Education is free and universally accessible, but strictly selective based on ability.

Healthcare: Universal and free, but with elements of insurance-based healthcare for "enhanced comfort." Pharmaceuticals and medical instrumentation are at a high level. Culture: Strict control has been relaxed to the point of "state procurement." There is a permitted underground, mainstream cinema, and literature criticizing individual shortcomings (but not the system as a whole). Socialist realism in architecture has given way to "Soviet modernism" and "cosmic neo-brutalism."

3. Global points of tension:

Space: The Zarya lunar station (USSR) and the Mars exploration program are a source of pride. The US has its own lunar base, but it is smaller and technologically weaker. A "second space race" is underway. Cyberspace: A constant "cold" cyberwar between the KGB and the NSA. Hacker attacks and information leaks are commonplace. "Color revolutions": This is now a term used by Western media to describe pro-Soviet uprisings in Third World countries. The KGB masterfully organizes "popular protests" against pro-Western dictators. Middle East: Syria is a reliable ally of the USSR. Israel exists, but in a state of permanent cold war with pro-Soviet Arab regimes. Iran is Moscow's strategic partner.

4. Military Parity:

The USSR possesses the world's largest land army and the second-most powerful navy (after the US, but by a wide margin). Its nuclear arsenal is roughly equal to that of the US. The doctrine is "deterrence through conventional superiority in Eurasia." I. Philosophy of Relationships in the Conditions of Developed Socialism:

1. Marriage as the Norm. The institution of marriage is not only not condemned—it is the cornerstone of a healthy Soviet society. It is a "cell" in both the literal and figurative sense: the basic productive unit of society is not the individual, but the family, reproducing labor and moral resources. Love and tenderness between comrades in the party and in life are openly encouraged as the highest form of human relations, demonstrating the superiority of the socialist system based on collectivism and mutual assistance.
2. The primacy of the general over the personal. However, the ideology clearly defines the hierarchy: love must not become a "petty-bourgeois cult" that distracts from service to the common cause. The ideal Soviet family is not a closed world, but a team on the labor front of life. Spouses support each other in professional growth, political activism, and the upbringing of worthy heirs of communism. Feelings should be "healthy" and "creative," not "destructive" or "selfish.The institution of marriage is not only not condemned, but is elevated to the rank of the most important social virtue. Genuine love and affection between citizens are considered a necessary condition for the formation of a psychologically healthy, stable personality in future communists. However, individual feelings should not become an end in themselves or an obstacle to fulfilling civic and labor duties. The ideal is a "family-collective," where partners are comrades, partners in labor and in raising children for the benefit of society."
3. Stages of Personal Life: · Youth (18-25): The period of "socialist romanticism." Companionship, community service, and cultural outings are encouraged. "Fornication" (unregistered relationships) is not formally criminalized, but is interpreted as a sign of "youthful immaturity" and a "relic of bourgeois debauchery." This is an acceptable, but frowned upon, phase, which should be remembered with a touch of shame in adulthood.Contraception is formally permitted and available through pharmacies, but its quality and selection often leave much to be desired. This "technical deficiency" is not publicized by the party, but indirectly contributes to early marriage and childbirth. · Maturity (25-30): The period of "conscious family building." A citizen, having received an education and established himself in the workplace, is expected to take a conscious approach to starting a family. Loneliness at this age already raises questions among the party committee and comrades. Social Responsibility (30+): A citizen who has not started a family by this age voluntarily renounces a vital social function. Their "fornication" or loneliness are no longer regarded as youthful pranks, but as "social infantilism" and "ideological immaturity." The state, acting as an "older comrade" and "caring parent," intervenes to guide them on the right path. This is not punishment, but an act of the highest social justice and care.By this age, a citizen, especially a member of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union or a Komsomol activist, expects to start a family. Conscious bachelorhood begins to raise questions among the Party committee and coworkers. This is interpreted as insufficient "social maturity" or excessive "individualism." · A progressive social tax system for single citizens is introduced, the proceeds of which go to a fund to support large families. "Soft" pressure is introduced through public organizations.

II. Combating "bourgeois decay":

Prostitution has been eliminated as a class phenomenon and is considered a serious social disease of capitalism. Its existence in the USSR is officially denied. Individuals found providing or using such services are considered either morally corrupt (subject to forced treatment and "re-education" through labor) or as agents of Western influence seeking to undermine the morality of Soviet society (subject to more serious criminal prosecution). Pornography is completely illegal. Its distribution is equated with ideological sabotage aimed at corrupting youth and turning healthy feelings of love into a commodity and a base instinct. Smuggling Western pornographic materials ("samizdat of shame") is a serious crime, vigilantly monitored by the KGB. Possession of such material is punishable by a large fine, correctional labor, and registration as "persons with unstable morals."

III. Practice and Contradictions:

"Komsomol Weddings" are mass-organized events for couples matched by the "Harmony" program. They take place in wedding palaces under portraits of Marx, Engels, and Lenin, with parting words from party veterans. The gift from the state is a voucher to a holiday home.

There is a black market for "infertility certificates" or "mental disorders" to avoid forced marriage. Obtaining them is associated with great risk and corruption in medical institutions. · Public opinion is ambivalent: on the one hand, many truly find happiness in such organized unions, especially if the couple is well-matched. On the other hand, there's a bitter joke in intellectual circles: "Love will conquer all except the 'Harmony' algorithm." Divorce in such marriages is possible, but extremely difficult and requires humiliating proceedings before party commissions with citations of "failure to fulfill social duty." · Ideologists speak of "overcoming petty-bourgeois prejudices about romance" and moving toward "scientifically based, responsible partnerships."

Chapter IV. Demographic Policy and Strengthening the Soviet Family Program slogan: "A happy family is the foundation of communism! The state is a friend and helper in this crucial task."

I. Ideological Justification:

Demographic growth is recognized as the highest state and social objective. A sustainable increase in the number of a healthy, able-bodied, and ideologically minded population is the key to victory in the historical competition between the two systems and the construction of a communist future. Private life ceases to be an exclusively private matter, becoming a sphere of social responsibility. Childlessness and conscious singleness are treated not as a personal choice, but as a form of social dependency and a deviation from the norm, since the citizen refuses to contribute to the reproduction of the country's labor and scientific resources.

Ideological Foundation: The Soviet family is the "cell of society" and the primary reproductive unit of the communist future. A high birth rate is more than just a statistic; it is a national necessity, a patriotic duty, and a matter of national security. Individualism in matters of procreation is equated with selfishness and contradicts the principles of collectivism. ‎ ‎1. Incentive and Support System ("Carrot"): ‎· Education and Career: Women returning from maternity leave are guaranteed professional development courses, flexible schedules, and priority promotion. Resigning a mother with a child under 14 is virtually impossible and punishable by law. ‎· "Family" Ruble: Children are allocated personal social accounts with state co-financing. These funds can only be spent on an approved list of goods and services: education, health, sports clubs, children's clothing, and literature. This prevents "misuse."· Ideological indoctrination from childhood: The school curriculum, starting in 5th grade, includes a course called "Fundamentals of the Soviet Family." Emphasis is placed on the happiness of having many children, mutual assistance, and collective parenting. The Pioneer and Komsomol organizations hold competitions such as "Best School Family" and "Help the Youngest." · Cultural Code: Film, literature, and television (the "Family" channel) portray the image of a successful, happy Soviet person, who is always a parent. Childless couples (for non-medical reasons) are met with mild social confusion; they are given "preventive talks" by the party committee and trade union.

Reproductive Health Centers (RHC): Open in every city. Free IVF, embryo genetic screening, egg and sperm cryopreservation for delayed motherhood (for social reasons such as study or business travel). Abortion on request has been banned since 1985. Marriages are permitted only for strict medical (threat to the mother's life, severe fetal abnormalities) and social (rape) reasons; the decision is made by a commission. ‎Commission. ‎· Medical and genetic passport: Every citizen has one. Upon marriage, couples undergo a mandatory but free consultation about the risks of hereditary diseases. The state offers correction programs and guarantees support in the event of the birth of a special child. State dating service "Soyuz": Powered by Sovnet algorithms. Not for "romance," but for the formation of ideologically and genetically stable couples. It takes into account not only interests, but also psychological types, health characteristics, and professional usefulness. Marriages between representatives of different republics are encouraged to "strengthen the friendship of peoples." The "Mother Heroine" badge (for 10 or more children) provides a lifetime increased pension, separate, comfortable housing, priority in the distribution of scarce goods, and all-Union glory. One-time benefits for the birth of each child increase exponentially (3rd, 4th, 5th child, and beyond). Priority rights to improved housing conditions, free vouchers to the best sanatoriums, and a Tavria car from the company.The cult of large, healthy, and happy families in the media, cinema, and literature. Maternity Capital 2.0: A substantial one-time payment is made upon the birth of the first child. For the second and third, the amount increases exponentially, plus bonus points are awarded for the Social Card system, providing access to scarce goods and services. Career guarantees: For women, fully paid maternity leave for up to three years with retention of their position and uninterrupted work experience. For men, additional paid days of parental leave. Cult of the Mother-Heroine: Titles, state awards, honor, and universal respect. Their portraits are featured on Honor Rolls. 2. Administrative and Regulatory Measures (a "carrot" with elements of coercion): ‎This is the very radical measure, operating under the slogan: "A state based on a scientific approach to everything cannot leave such an important matter as starting a family to chance." ‎ ‎· All-Union Unified Register of Citizens of Marriageable Age ‎ · All citizens who have reached the age of 23 and are not married are automatically included in the register. ‎ · Detailed records are maintained: medical records (with an emphasis on genetic data and reproductive health), psychological profiles (compiled in schools, universities, and workplaces), social characteristics (education, profession, party affiliation, participation in public life), and interests. ‎· All-Union Unified Register of Marriage and Family Status (ERBS). Civil registration records are maintained. Upon reaching the age of 23, all citizens who are not married are automatically placed in the "Category of Increased Social Attention - I" (CSI-I). They are subject to "outreach" at the level of their Komsomol organization, trade union, and party committee. Detailed files are maintained: medical records (with an emphasis on genetic data and reproductive health), psychological profiles (compiled in schools, universities, and workplaces), social characteristics (education, profession, party affiliation, participation in public life), and interests. ‎ ‎· Upon reaching the age of 25 (the end of active education and the period of social maturity), unmarried citizens are transferred to the "Category of Social Burden - II" (CSO-II). The following measures are being introduced: ‎ · "Bachelor and Single Tax" – a monthly deduction of 10-15% of salary, sent to the Large Families Support Fund. ‎ · Restricted access to prestigious positions, foreign business trips, and some scarce goods (vacation "according to a special list"). · Citizens who remain single are sent "Letters of Recommendation" from the local Communist Party committee and trade union, inviting them to review potentially suitable candidates from the Register (selection is based on compatibility based on basic parameters). ‎ · Progressive "social compensation contributions" (de facto a fine) are being introduced to the Large Families Support Fund. The amount of these contributions increases every year. Public pressure is mounting. ‎ · Decreased placement on housing waiting lists. Upon reaching the age of 30, citizens of the KSO-II category are transferred to the "Category of State Demographic Care - III" (KGDZ-III). Protocol No. 1 "On State Assistance in Family Placement" comes into force.

3. Protocol No. 1: State Partner Matching Mechanism. A special algorithm, "HARMONY" (developed at the Institute of Cybernetics of the USSR Academy of Sciences and the Institute of Sociology), conducts an in-depth analysis of the partner's profile. Matching is not random, but based on:
4. Genetic compatibility (minimizing the risk of hereditary diseases, predicting the health of offspring).
5. Psychosocial compatibility (similar value orientations, intelligence level, and social status to minimize conflicts).
6. Production expediency (for example, an engineer can be brought together with a teacher or a doctor to create a “stable intelligentsia cell”).The couple is assigned a "Social Adaptation Leave" (2 weeks) at a holiday home, where they work with psychologists. Refusal to participate in the program without a valid reason (confirmed by a medical or party commission) leads to serious consequences: demotion, hampered career advancement, exclusion from housing applications, and permanent tax increases. Such individuals are labeled "socially irresponsible."

Basis: The citizen is deprived of the right to independent choice. The selection is carried out by the Department of Demographic Planning of the USSR Ministry of Health in conjunction with the Research Institute of Eugenics and Social Psychology (NIIESP).

Selection criteria (in order of priority):

1. Genetic compatibility and potential. Data from medical examinations and the medical records of ancestors (up to the third generation) are analyzed. The goal is to minimize the risk of hereditary diseases and "a harmonious combination of phenotypic traits beneficial to society" (physical health, intellectual abilities).
2. Socio-psychological compatibility. Personal files, references from work/school, and the results of mandatory psychological tests (personality type, values) are analyzed. Pairs with "complementary social roles" (e.g., "techie" + "humanities student," "leader" + "executive") are selected to create a "balanced family unit."
3. Ideological reliability. Both partners must have positive references from the party organizer and the security officer. Marriage with an "unreliable" person is not possible.
4. Territorial principle. Preference is given to partners from the same or neighboring regions to minimize migration costs and strengthen local communities. Procedure: The citizen is given a "Marriage Order" with the details of the chosen partner and the date of registration at the Civil Registry Office (usually within three months). Refusal is possible only for strict medical reasons, confirmed by the Scientific Research Institute of Social and Economic Problems (NIIESP) commission. Refusal "for unjustified reasons" (dislike of appearance or character) leads to: ‎ Transfer to a low-paying job. ‎ A forced "educational course" in a special sanatorium. ‎ If persistent, recognition as a "socially dangerous element" and transfer to forced labor in a remote region with the loss of some civil rights. ‎ ‎4. Reservations and realities of the system: ‎ ‎· Loopholes: The system has exceptions. Persons whose "marital status is deemed inappropriate for reasons of the highest state" (intelligence agents, employees of closed research institutes, certain categories of military personnel, and individuals with serious medical diagnoses) are not covered by Protocol No. 1. These individuals are given the status of "State Servants in Special Conditions." · Corruption: Despite the strict regulations, there is a black market for "arranged marriages" and bribes to ERBS officials to falsify data or select a "convenient" partner from the list. · Social pressure: Society has developed a disdainful attitude toward "single marriage dodgers." The very fact of being on the registry after age 25 is a stain on one's reputation. Many enter into formal, unhappy marriages "for the sake of appearances," which leads to hidden social problems: alcoholism, depression, and "working at the dacha" as an escape from family. Ideological justification: The media portrays this system not as coercion, but as a "scientific, progressive breakthrough in building a harmonious society," "the state's concern for the personal happiness of those lost in life," and "the highest form of social justice, where duty to the collective is more important than momentary whims."

The system provokes hidden resistance among some intellectuals and urban youth, and is perceived as an infringement on freedom.

Sham marriages between friends to circumvent the system are common, and the KGB vigilantly monitors these cases, viewing them as "fraud to the detriment of state interests."Despite the scientific approach, the percentage of unhappy marriages created under the "Harmony" program is statistically 15% higher than in "normal" families. However, this is not publicized, and problems are resolved through a network of "Family Psychocorrection" offices. In propaganda, this system is presented not as coercion, but as the highest form of "state humanism" and "scientific care": "Why do you trust the state with your education, health, and safety, but not with helping you find happiness? The state knows you and your needs better than you do in your youthful inexperience."