Vitor Gustavo RIBEIRO DE MATOS
Encyclopedia Through Its Own Lens: The Case of the Great Soviet Encyclopedia
Institution:
University of Santiago de Compostela
Author's email:
vitor.gustavorm@gmail.com
Abstract:
This study examines the Great Soviet Encyclopedia (GSE) as a vehicle of Marxist-Leninist doctrine, analysing its quantitative (entry length, references, authors) and qualitative aspects (ideological language, thematic framing). By studying entries like “Encyclopedists” and “Encyclopedia,” it finds that while the first two editions blend ideology with historical depth, the third edition adopts formal neutrality but with reduced informational richness. This challenges the prevailing scholarly view that the third edition is superior as a reference work due to its avoidance of ideological influence.
