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aubrijoanne 's review for:
The Future Is History: How Totalitarianism Reclaimed Russia
by Masha Gessen
I was absorbed by this journalistic narrative dealing with the rise of Putin in Russia after a brief period of reopening (perestroika) during the 80s-90s. Told through the experiences of four Russians born in the 80s, it was entertaining and informative.
At times, the individual stories were hard to follow and while they were appalling and fascinating in themselves, I wasn’t entirely convinced that they were representative of a whole Russian experience. Other reviews confirmed that this was a biased account (and of course it was - it was told by people of relative privilege all of whom left Russia due to persecution). That said, I think it was an interesting portrayal of Russian society and I liked the philosophical and psychological elements.
Themes/Ideas ~
Homo Sovieticus. A psychological species defined by Levada and Gudkov through their surveys, shaped by life under the Soviet Regime. Key attributes include doublethink, comfortability with dominant patriarchal figure/state, focused on private life, little hope for a better future. ‘We pretend to work and they pretend to pay us.’
Lack of reflection. Exile of Russian philosophers meant no one was analyzing or reflecting on society. Very few psychologists, sociologists, psychoanalysts.
Totalitarianism definitions. Can be applied using any ideology, as long as it is all-consuming. Destruction of public spaces as safe spaces. Enforcing done by one another.
Rise of Dugin’s nationalist philosophy. Pedophilia as a scapegoat to pass any laws. Russian “empire” as Eastern and anti-modern. Making Putin appear moderate.
Russia cited as communism gone wrong, but totalitarian can apply to any ideology. Totalitarian Russia has always been far right, “anti-western” in regard to social issues.
At times, the individual stories were hard to follow and while they were appalling and fascinating in themselves, I wasn’t entirely convinced that they were representative of a whole Russian experience. Other reviews confirmed that this was a biased account (and of course it was - it was told by people of relative privilege all of whom left Russia due to persecution). That said, I think it was an interesting portrayal of Russian society and I liked the philosophical and psychological elements.
Themes/Ideas ~
Homo Sovieticus. A psychological species defined by Levada and Gudkov through their surveys, shaped by life under the Soviet Regime. Key attributes include doublethink, comfortability with dominant patriarchal figure/state, focused on private life, little hope for a better future. ‘We pretend to work and they pretend to pay us.’
Lack of reflection. Exile of Russian philosophers meant no one was analyzing or reflecting on society. Very few psychologists, sociologists, psychoanalysts.
Totalitarianism definitions. Can be applied using any ideology, as long as it is all-consuming. Destruction of public spaces as safe spaces. Enforcing done by one another.
Rise of Dugin’s nationalist philosophy. Pedophilia as a scapegoat to pass any laws. Russian “empire” as Eastern and anti-modern. Making Putin appear moderate.
Russia cited as communism gone wrong, but totalitarian can apply to any ideology. Totalitarian Russia has always been far right, “anti-western” in regard to social issues.