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The Rhodesia Herald, 30 November 1960
DIVORCE rates in Russia are low and going lower, but it is because of strong public opinion against divorce rather than effective conciliation in the courts.

This is one of the conclusions of the marriage expert, Professor Daver Mace following a visit he made behind the Iron Curtain several weeks ago.

Writing in the bulletin of the Marriage Guidance Council, Professor Mace says various deterrents are placed in the way of divorce seekers in Soviet lands.

They include a preliminary interview with the judges, various delays, and the need to publish in the local newspaper a notice of intention to divorce.

“The Soviets have built up a strong public opinion against divorce in recent years — a trend exactly opposite to ours,” he writes.

“However, our impression was that anyone really determined to get a divorce can get one. Faced with unfaltering resolution or a seemingly hopeless situation, the court accepts the inevitable.

“In principle I consider this a far better system than ours.”

He mentions that there is no marriage guidance counselling in Russia and that he tried to pass on ideas about the British system of marriage counselling.

“But the Soviet view that no one from the West can be doing a better job than is done in the Soviet Union, inculcated by propaganda, dulls receptivity to new ideas.”

He adds that Soviet marriage has strengths and weaknesses and that he was constantly surprised to find them favourably impressed.

He liked the comradeship between husband and wife and the balance between loyalty to the family and loyalty to the wider community.

LESSONS FOR TODAY

Considering that the article was written during the Cold War era, it is surprising that Rhodesians had something positive to learn and admire from the former Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR).

Marriage is one the most important pillars of any society, but since culture is dynamic, this has adversely affected the family institution, since divorce rates continue to rise.

According to the Federal Statistics Service (Rosstat) “57 994 divorces were formalised by August 2020, compared to 53 376 in August 2019”. These figures are comparable with most countries in both developed and less developed countries.

Depending on country, the variables that lead to divorce are many and far between, although some marriages can be saved after proper counselling. Irreconcilable differences are usually cited as a cause for divorce.

Divorce results in problems, especially for children.

The Word of God (Bible) says a man can only divorce his wife due to infidelity.