Soviet Hypocrisy & Western Gullibility

by Sidney Hook, Vladimir Bukovsky, Paul Hollander

In this volume, three distinguished scholars examine a perplexing question: Why do many Westerners willingly believe the propaganda of one of the most notorious regimes in history) the Soviet Union? Sidney Hook places this phenomenon in the context of twentieth-century history. Vladimir Bukovsky shows how the Soviets have been able to manipulate Western public opinion and desire for peace. Paul Hollander surveys the continuing misunderstandings about the Soviet Union among Western people and argues that better information alone cannot remedy the situation.

1 pages, Hardcover

First published July 20, 1987

About the author

Sidney Hook was an American pragmatic philosopher known for his contributions to public debates. A student of John Dewey, Hook continued to examine the philosophy of history, of education, politics, and of ethics. He was known for his criticisms of totalitarianism (fascism and Marxism–Leninism). A pragmatic social democrat, Hook sometimes cooperated with conservatives, particularly in opposing communism. After WWII, he argued that members of conspiracies, like the Communist Party USA and other Leninist conspiracies, ethically could be barred from holding offices of public trust.