The Soviet Union : internal and external perspectives on Soviet society / Vladimir Shlapentokh, Eric Shiraev and Eero Carroll.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Shlapentokh, Vladimir.

Contributor:

Shiraev, Eric, 1960-

Carroll, Eero.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Soviet Union--Foreign public opinion, American.

Soviet Union.

Public opinion--United States.

Public opinion.

United States.

Public opinion--Soviet Union.

Physical Description:

xvi, 182 pages ; 22 cm

Edition:

First edition.

Place of Publication:

New York, N.Y. : Palgrave Macmillan, 2008.

Summary:

In order to overcome the deep conflict dividing contemporary social scientists, The Soviet Union: Internal and External Perspectives on Soviet Society analyzes Soviet society as a "hard reality" with many objective traits such as the omnipresent state, political repression, and the state monopoly on the economy, education, and culture. While emphasizing the existence of objective social reality and the possibility of its absolute depiction, the authors also explore the relative value of social knowledge and assign equal value to multiple perceptions and interpretations. The authors also show the different perceptions of Soviet society in the Soviet Union and in the United States. Ultimately the book seeks to prove that the most accurate depictions of Soviet reality were the ones most critical in nature. At the same time the authors demonstrate that the praises and glorifications of the Soviet Union are useful for the better understanding of this fascinating society.

Contents:

Introduction

Thinkers from overseas: how western experts described the Soviet Union over its 74-year history

Homegrown Russian elites and Soviet realities

The Soviet Union in the mirror of American public opinion from the 1930s to 1990

Ordinary citizens' perceptions of the Soviet system from within.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references (pages [157]-169) and indexes.

ISBN:

0230607772

9780230607774

OCLC:

226984706

Online:

Publisher description