false http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1174681577m/430172.jpg 430172 1 <p> Many westerners used to call the Soviet Union "Russia." Russians too regarded it as their country, but that did not mean they were entirely happy with it. In the end, in fact, Russia actually destroyed the Soviet Union. How did this happen, and what kind of Russia emerged? </p><p> In this illuminating book, Geoffrey Hosking explores what the Soviet experience meant for Russians. One of the keys lies in messianism--the idea rooted in Russian Orthodoxy that the Russians were a "chosen people." The communists reshaped this notion into messianic socialism, in which the Soviet order would lead the world in a new direction. Neither vision, however, fit the "community spirit" of the Russian people, and the resulting clash defined the Soviet world. </p><p> Hosking analyzes how the Soviet state molded Russian identity, beginning with the impact of the Bolshevik Revolution and civil war. He discusses the severe dislocations resulting from collectivization and industrialization; the relationship between ethnic Russians and other Soviet peoples; the dramatic effects of World War II on ideas of homeland and patriotism; the separation of "Russian" and "Soviet" culture; leadership and the cult of personality; and the importance of technology in the Soviet world view. </p><p> At the heart of this penetrating work is the fundamental question of what happens to a people who place their nationhood at the service of empire. There is no surer guide than Geoffrey Hosking to reveal the historical forces forging Russian identity in the post-communist world. </p> 419152 30 4 2006 Rulers and Victims: The Russians in the Soviet Union total:4|4:3|3:1| 4 15 13 1 4 0 false false Wed Jun 10 00:00:00 -0700 2009 Sun Jun 07 21:28:16 -0700 2009 Mon Nov 02 18:43:19 -0800 2009 1 more...]]> 0 0 false false Wed Nov 04 21:08:11 -0800 2009 Wed Nov 04 21:08:17 -0800 2009 0 0 false false Thu Aug 27 14:46:06 -0700 2009 Thu Aug 27 14:46:06 -0700 2009 0 0 false false Thu Jul 30 21:04:11 -0700 2009 Thu Jul 30 21:04:11 -0700 2009 3 0 false false Fri Nov 21 12:56:41 -0800 2008 Fri Nov 21 12:56:41 -0800 2008 4 0 false false Wed Aug 26 00:00:00 -0700 2009 Sun Jul 27 15:05:21 -0700 2008 Wed Aug 26 20:19:20 -0700 2009 0 0 false false Mon Jun 16 19:28:39 -0700 2008 Mon Jun 16 19:28:39 -0700 2008 0 0 false false Sat Jun 14 05:28:54 -0700 2008 Sat Jun 14 05:29:10 -0700 2008 0 0 false false Sat Apr 26 21:46:45 -0700 2008 Sat Apr 26 21:46:50 -0700 2008 0 0 false false Mon Mar 24 11:17:18 -0700 2008 Mon Mar 24 11:17:18 -0700 2008 0 0 false false Sat Nov 24 22:14:59 -0800 2007 Sat Nov 24 22:14:59 -0800 2007 4 0 false false Tue Oct 02 17:17:12 -0700 2007 Tue Oct 02 17:17:12 -0700 2007 0 0 false false Sun Jul 22 09:38:36 -0700 2007 Sun Jul 22 09:38:36 -0700 2007 http://www.goodreads.com/book_link/follow/8?book_id=430172