The Soviet Union

1. Front Matter

   Pages i-xvi

   PDF

2. Introduction

   • Vladimir Shlapentokh, Eric Shiraev, Eero Carroll

   Pages 1-12

3. Thinkers From Overseas: How Western Experts Described the Soviet Union Over Its 74-Year History

   • Vladimir Shlapentokh, Eric Shiraev, Eero Carroll

   Pages 13-48

4. Homegrown Russian Elites and Soviet Realities

   • Vladimir Shlapentokh, Eric Shiraev, Eero Carroll

   Pages 49-76

5. The Soviet Union in the Mirror of American Public Opinion from the 1930s to 1990

   • Vladimir Shlapentokh, Eric Shiraev, Eero Carroll

   Pages 77-112

6. Ordinary Citizens’ Perceptions of the Soviet System from Within

   • Vladimir Shlapentokh, Eric Shiraev, Eero Carroll

   Pages 113-139

7. Conclusion

   • Vladimir Shlapentokh, Eric Shiraev, Eero Carroll

   Pages 141-144

8. Back Matter

   Pages 145-182

   PDF

The book analyzes Soviet society as a 'hard reality', emphasizes the varying perceptions of it in the Soviet Union and the US, and insists that, while glorifications of the Soviet reality have been useful, the most accurate descriptions of this reality were critical.

• information
• perception
• public opinion
• Union
• Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR)

ERIC SHIRAEV is a a Political Psychologist at George Mason University, USA. 
 
EERO CARROLL has held post-doctoral appointments at SOFI, Stockholm University (1999-2006), the National Institute for Working Life (2006-07) and the Institute for Futures Studies (2007-08), all in Stockholm, Sweden.

VLADIMIR SHLAPENTOKH is Professor of Sociology at Michigan State University, USA.

Policies and ethics