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Since the Soviet Union collapsed in 1991, questions of identity have dominated the culture not only of Russia, but of all the countries of the former Soviet bloc. This timely collection examines the ways in which cultural activities such as fiction, TV, cinema, architecture and exhibitions have addressed these questions and also describes other cultural flashpoints, from attitudes to language to the use of passports. It discusses definitions of political and cultural nationalism, as well as the myths, institutions and practices that moulded and expressed national identity. From post-Soviet recollections of food shortages to the attempts by officials to control popular religion, it analyses a variety of unexpected and compelling topics to offer fresh insights about this key area of world culture. Illustrated with numerous photographs, it presents the results of recent research in an accessible and lively way.

Issues for 1920-1922 published in New York; issues for 1923-1924 published in Chicago, Ill. ; Title from caption. ; Mode of access: Internet. ; Official organ of: Russian Soviet Government Bureau, June 1919-Jan. 1921; Friends of Soviet Russia, Feb. 1922-Oct. 1924. ; Absorbed by: Workers monthly, which later became: Political affairs.

Der Beitrag beschreibt die 'langen Wellen' und dauerhaften Prägungen, die Denunziation in der Gesellschaft und politischen Kultur Russlands seit der Oktoberrevolution hinterlassen haben. In Russland gab es, so die These der Autorin, eine lange Tradition kultureller Muster, an die das Denunziationsverhalten im Stalinismus anschließen konnten. Für die Durchführung der 'totalen' Kontrolle bedurfte es tausender Agenten und inoffizieller Mitarbeiter, die regelmäßig Nachforschungen in allen gesellschaftlichen Nischen der Sowjetunion durchführten. Alle, angefangen bei Stalin, sammelten kompromittierende Einzelheiten - einer gegen den anderen. Gleichzeitig war der Kontakt zu den staatlichen Organen gefährlich. Jede Zusammenarbeit war immer mit der Gefahr verbunden, selbst wegen Denunziation verhaftet zu werden. Erst mit der Perestroika änderten sich diese schizophrene Situation und das Klima des allgemeinen Misstrauens vollständig. In den Medien traten - in gutem ehemaligen stalinistischen Stil - Mitarbeiter mit öffentlichen Reuebekenntnissen auf. Zu einer wirklichen Vergangenheitsbewältigung und Wiedergeburt der Gesellschaft ist es für die Autorin jedoch bis jetzt nicht gekommen. (ICA)

The debate on the role of the ideology on the determination of Soviet foreign policy has ranged from the views consigning the ideology to the realm of propaganda to the notion of a very direct relation between foreign policy decisions & specific points of Marxism-Leninism. While no rigid pattern can be established, the role of the ideology should not be underplayed. It gives the Soviet rulers a definite Weltanshauung & a degree of SE sophistication in their foreign policy dealings. From their own viewpoint the ideology has an almost: irrational connection to the preservation of their power. An examination of Soviet policy in the satellites between 1953-1958 shows how closely the considerations of power & ideology are interconnected & how tactical flexibility is still tempered by ideological considerations. While internally Marxism in Russia is less & less relevant to the problems of a modern industrial society, its foreign successes & influence become of increasing importance to the preservation of Communism in the USSR. Thus the task of `proving' their ideology is felt by the rulers to lie more & more in the foreign sphere. AA-IPSA.