Myth of the Russian Intelligentsia

<p>Russia is one of the few countries in the world where intellectuals existed as a social group and shared a unique social identity. This book focuses on one of the most important and influential groups of Russian intellectuals - the 1960s generation of <em>shestidesyatniki </em>- often considered the last embodiment of the classical tradition of the intelligentsia. They devoted their lives to defending 'socialism with a human face' authored Perestroika and were subsequently demonised when the reforms failed. It investigates how these intellectuals were affected by the transition to the new post-Soviet Russia and how they responded to the criticism. </p><p>Unlike other studies on this subject which view the Russian intelligentsia as simply an objectively existing group this book portrays the intelligentsia as a cultural story or myth revealing that the intelligentsia's existence is a function of the intellectuals' abilities to construct moral arguments. Drawing from extensive original empirical research including life-story interviews with the Russian intellectuals it shows how the shestidesyatniki creatively mobilised the myth as they attempted to repair their damaged public image.</p>