Russian Utopia

Mark D. Steinberg explores the work of individuals he recognizes as utopians during the most dramatic period in Russian and Soviet history. It has long been a cliché to argue that Russian revolutionary movements have been inspired by varieties of 'utopian dreaming' - claims which although not wrong are too often used uncritically. For the first time <i>Russian Utopian</i> digs deeper and asks what utopians meant at the level of ideas emotions and lived experience. <br/> <br/>Despite the fact that many would have resisted the 'utopian' label at the time because of its dismissive meanings Steinberg's comprehensive approach sees him take in political leaders intellectuals writers and artists (visual material and musical) as well as workers peasants soldiers students and others. Ideologically the figures discussed range from reactionaries to anarchists nationalists (including non-Russians) to feminists both religious believers and 'the militant godless'. This innovative text dissects the very notion of the Russian utopian and examines its significance in its various fascinating contexts.