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.
- ISBN10 0367288400
- ISBN13 9780367288402
- Publish Date 13 September 2019 (first published 28 March 1988)
- Publish Status Active
- Publish Country GB
- Publisher Taylor & Francis Ltd
- Imprint Routledge
- Format Hardcover
- Pages 290
- Language English