A local perspective on communist propaganda: the case study of the Romanian Association for Strengthening Ties with the Soviet Union (ARLUS) – Mureş Branch (1948)

The Romanian Association for Strengthening ties with the Soviet Union (ARLUS) played a pivotal role in manipulating Romanian society under communist rule. This article uses historical records from the late 1940s to explore the methods used by ARLUS for promoting Soviet art and literature at local level focusing on its Mureş branch as a case study. ARLUS disseminated Soviet cultural products while marginalising Romanian cultural and social traditions. Furthermore, ARLUS restricted access to Western influences while promoting Soviet ideology. The case of the Mureş branch of ARLUS exemplifies the tactics of control employed by the communist regime to enforce ideological conformity within the society. The study contributes to a better understanding of the impact of Sovietization on Eastern European societies.