The Future Is History: How Totalitarianism Reclaimed Russia

by Masha Gessen

During the Great Depression, American-made industrial equipment became affordable—American tragedy worked in synergy with Russian need. Stalin said, “Dogonim i peregonim Ameriku” (“We shall catch up to America and overtake it”) and Soviet factory machines were often inscribed with the letters DIP in honor of this aspirational slogan.

Totalitarianism is sustained by maintaining a very low standard of living.