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Abstract
Johann P. Arnason has offered a comprehensive sociological analysis of the origins, historical dynamics and decline of the alternative communist model of modernity. At the same time, in the field of Soviet studies two distinct approaches have been formed which stress the modern character of Soviet society or its neo-traditionalist aspects. Arnason's work can contribute to bridging the gap between these approaches. His ideas are also relevant for explaining the collapse of the Soviet system and assessing the role of historical legacies in post-Soviet states. Combining Arnason's theoretical perspective and recent approaches in history and comparative politics may result in a deeper understanding of the Soviet model as a specific type of modern society and the consequences of its disintegration.

This article examines approaches towards analyzing the "entanglement" of modern societies in sociological and historical literature. Differences between G. Therborn's and J. Arnason's approaches are highlighted and Arnason's perspective on "alternative" communist modernity is discussed. The interaction of the USSR and China represents an example of entanglement of alternative modernities. As Arnason demonstrates, in the 1920's the Soviet model of state-building was seen by various political forces in China as a case of successful imperial restoration. In addition, he highlights the role of ties to China in Soviet politics. Chinese communists adapted Soviet patterns of totalitarian control before even coming to power. After 1949 there was a further adaptation and radicalization of the Soviet model in China. At the same time the rivalry between the USSR and China was largely a product of their imperial legacies. According to Arnason, in post-Maoist China a combination of patterns of capitalist development, elements of Marxist-Leninist political practices and ideology, as well as a selective revival of Confucian legacies all went beyond the Soviet model. Arnason characterizes how Chinese leadership was influenced by the example of economic development of other East Asian countries and examines the rivalry between the USA and China in the global geopolitical context.

This is a review of Leonid G. Ionin's book devoted to Max Weber's life and work. The book presents certain facts from Weber's biography that are not widely known to the Russian audience. The author of the book focuses on Weber's relationships with the people surrounding him. Aside from that, the author analyzes some elements of Weberian sociology while defining the influence of Protestant ethic on modern capitalism, as well as rationalization theory and the typology of domination. It is argued in the review that Ionin's book makes an important contribution to the development of Max Weber studies in Russia.

The main subject matter of Johann Arnason's book is multiple modernities. The author discusses various theoretical approaches towards modern societies and offers an original conceptualization of historical processes. He analyzes patterns of modernity in the fields of economy, politics and culture, as well as sequences of various modernity types. Particular attention is devoted to social transformations in the Eurasian region. Arnason carefully examines the formation and historical dynamics of the Soviet and Chinese versions of "alternative" communist modernity. Finally, he discusses global modernity and the need to reconsider its trajectory in light of communist experience.

This article argues that combining elements of the sociological theories of Johann Arnason and Peter Wagner can contribute to an understanding of the causes of the 'new Cold War' on the European continent. Comparisons of today's confrontation between Russia and the West with the original Cold War are largely misleading since the Soviet model of modernity represented a radical alternative to its liberal western version. Unlike the original Cold War, the current ideological confrontation is not connected with a clash of different forms of modernity. Today's Russia lacks a clear civilizational identity and does not follow an alternative project of modernity. The recent 'conservative turn' in Russian politics largely draws on a specific interpretation of European modernity.

Frontmatter -- Contents -- 1 Introduction -- 2 The Religio-political Nexus: Historical and Comparative Reflections -- 3 Politics and Religion in a Global Age -- 4 Comparative Secularisms and the Politics of Modernity -- 5 Europe in the Global Rise of Religious Nationalism -- 6 The European Union's Civil Religion in the Making? -- 7 Democracy, Secularism and Islam in Turkey -- 8 Orthodox Religion and Politics in Post-Soviet Russia -- 9 Religion and Politics, Church and State in Chinese History -- 10 Religion and the State in Contemporary Japan -- 11 Arab Revolutions and Political Islam: A Structural Approach -- 12 Beyond Post-secularism: Religion in Political Analysis (Review Article) -- Notes on the Contributors -- Index