Research Catalog

Title

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

Author

Shlapentokh, Vladimir.

Publication

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

Supplementary Content

Publisher description

Items in the Library & Off-site

Holdings

Details

Additional Authors

• Shiraev, Eric, 1960-
• Carroll, Eero.

Description

xvi, 182 pages; 22 cm

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."--BOOK JACKET.

Subjects

• Public opinion > United States
• Public opinion > Soviet Union
• Soviet Union > Foreign public opinion, American

Bibliography (note)

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

Contents

1. Introduction -- 2. Thinkers from Overseas: How Western Experts Described the Soviet Union over Its 74-Year History -- 3. Homegrown Russian Elites and Soviet Realities -- 4. The Soviet Union in the Mirror of American Public Opinion from the 1930s to 1990 -- 5. Ordinary Citizens' Perceptions of the Soviet System from Within -- 6. Conclusion.

ISBN

• 0230607772
• 9780230607774

LCCN

• 2008019399
• 40016114393

OCLC

• ocn226984706
• 226984706
• SCSB-5445439

Owning Institutions

Columbia University Libraries