Russia: Conformity and Dissent

TIBOR SZAMUELY

Is Russia seething with revolt? Orisita land of 240 million brainwashed zombies ruled by a band of ruthless ruffians? Most honest reporters of the Soviet scene incline toward one or another of these views, or even to a combination of both. Of course, there are alternate interpretations as well: Western governments and political pundits like to think of Russia as just another great power, burdened down by its own “hawks” and “doves” and “military-industrial complexes,” with which it is entirely possible to reach reasonable and fair compromises. As for our so-called “progressive” so-called “intelligentsia,” that “effete corps of impudent snobs” (to quote a well-known household phrase), they see Russia as a society which, being industrialized, is far from perfect—yet infinitely superior to the “repressively tolerant” United States.

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TIBOR SZAMUELY

Is Russia seething with revolt? Orisita land of 240 million brainwashed zombies ruled by a band of ruthless ruffians? Most honest reporters of the Soviet scene incline toward one or another of these views, or even to a combination of both. Of course, there are alternate interpretations as well: Western governments and political pundits like to think of Russia as just another great power, burdened down by its own “hawks” and “doves” and “military-industrial complexes,” with which it is entirely possible to reach reasonable and fair compromises. As for our so-called “progressive” so-called “intelligentsia,” that “effete corps of impudent snobs” (to quote a well-known household phrase), they see Russia as a society which, being industrialized, is far from perfect—yet infinitely superior to the “repressively tolerant” United States.