Soviet Society And Culture

Academic analysis has not always kept pace with the dramatic changes that have occurred in the USSR since Stalin’s time for objective study has often been overshadowed—especially in the 1980s—by publicity concerning the negative aspects of the “Evil Empire.” Recently however because of reforms initiated by Gorbachev the dynamics of the Soviet system have come into sharper focus. This book provides a wide-ranging detailed view of economic social ideological and literary aspects of the Soviet system leading up to the Gorbachev era. The essays include both historical and contemporary perspectives on the sources of stability (and stagnation) in the post-Stalin years. Examining the intricate fabric of Soviet society the contributors provide insights into the social and cultural motivations for Gorbachev’s “restructuring” policies. Their themes echo the work of Vera S. Dunham who for more than four decades has focused on diverse aspects of Soviet society and culture particularly on the noncoercive means of social control that have often been overlooked but that are a vital component of the Soviet system.