<i>Tukhta</i>: labour and resistance in the audit regime of the Soviet Gulag

Working from the memoir literature of Soviet Gulag survivors, article explores curious practice tukhta as contrived by toiling zeks archipelago. In a labour regime tasked with accumulating surplus, destroying political dissent, and transforming subjectivity imprisoned, proved to be tactical means for resisting logic an audit regime. The subtle control numbers effected demanded equally sophisticated practices resistance on part subjected its technique, was one those practices. When treated kind phronesis, informal ethical quality can appreciated in way that more formal social scientific epistemology historical method would miss. Perhaps most salient counter-conduct found experiences Gulag’s orchestration control, has potential reveal great deal about regimes generically beyond bounds Russia. Historical inspiration engaging therefore derived ethico-political tukhta, where otherwise there might just pessimism, demoralization, resigned acceptance awesome power regimes.