Description
Book SynopsisThis book traces the origins and activities of an alliance of conservative Communist Party authorities and Russian nationalists during the late Soviet era. Specifically, it examines how and to what extent hitherto orthodox Communists sought political allies in the Russian nationalist movement in order to garner support for halting the reform program and saving the Soviet state from collapse. Focusing on the perestroika period, Dr. Kevin O''Connor explains in detail how Marxism-Leninsim receded into irrelevance, forcing orthodox Communists to abandon their Marxist principles in favor of great Russian nationalism.
Trade ReviewO'Connor is very informative on the development of Russian nationalism....The book is very nicely produced, [and] physically a pleasure to read. * Slavic and East European Review, July 2008 *
A valuable contribution that should find a broad readership among specialists and become a regular reading assignment in seminars on contemporary Russian nationalism and the Soviet-Russian regime change. -- Andreas Umland, Institute for Euro-Atlantic Cooperation * Europe-Asia Studies, (January 2008) *
Table of Contents1 Russians, the RSFSR, and Soviet Nationalities Policy, 1917 - 1953 2 Russian Nationalism, Russification, and the Rise of the "Russian Party," 1953 - 1985 3 Writers: An Opposition in Embryo, 1986 - 1988 4 The Ligachev Line, 1986 - 1988 5 "Russophobia:" Perestroika and the Russian Question 6 A Consolidating Force: Creating a Russian Communist Party 7 The Apparatchiks' Party 8 A Word to the People 9 "Russia to the Exit!"