How the Soviet System Works: Cultural, Psychological, and Social Themes

Cover......Page 1
Frontmatter......Page 2
Acknowledgments......Page 8
Contents......Page 14
1.The Harvard Project on the Soviet Social System and Its Data......Page 16
2.A Brief Review of the Formal Characteristics of the System......Page 30
3.Creating and Maintaining Myths......Page 40
4.Planning and Controlling......Page 47
5.Problem Solving the Overcommitment of Resources and Storming......Page 57
6.Refusal to Allow Independent Concentrations of Power......Page 64
7.Terror and Forced Labor......Page 79
8.Informal Adjustive Mechanisms......Page 85
9.Rigidity-Flexibility......Page 93
10.Caution at Major Risks in Foreign Affairs......Page 97
11.Soviet Policy Toward the Individual......Page 102
12.Sources of Satisfaction and Dissatisfaction......Page 105
13.Attitudes Toward the Soviet System......Page 123
14.Attitudes Toward the West......Page 132
15.Some Aspects of Russian National Character......Page 143
16.Political Loyalty of Individuals......Page 152
17.The Ruling Elite......Page 162
18.The Intelligentsia......Page 181
19.The Peasants......Page 188
20.The Workers......Page 193
21.Generational Differences......Page 197
22.Nationality Groups......Page 206
23.Summary......Page 216
24.Some Evaluations by the Authors......Page 225
25.Some Forecasts by the Authors......Page 241
Appendix. Reports and Publications of the Harvard Project on the Soviet Social System......Page 257
References......Page 264
Index......Page 272