The book explores the historical divide among Russian intellectuals, highlighting the contrasting ideologies of Slavophiles and Westernizers. Slavophiles embrace a holistic vision and reject Western democracy, while Westernizers advocate for rationality and scientific thought. This cultural and political dichotomy has shaped Russian identity and discourse for centuries, reflecting broader themes of East versus West in the context of Russian history.
The book explores the dynamic between influential leaders and intellectuals in shaping popular narratives that bolster authority, with a focus on Putin's early regime and his relationship with Dugin. It critically examines the sincerity of Putin's engagement with Dugin's philosophy and its strategic use for regime consolidation. By analyzing how political ideologies gain traction, it questions the loyalty of rulers to their proclaimed beliefs. Offering valuable insights into Putin's governance, it serves as a resource for researchers and policymakers interested in Post-Soviet Politics.
Vasily Yan (Vassily Grigoryevich Yanchevetsky, 1874–1954) was a writer of historical novels whose popularity survives the test of time. He was widely read throughout the Soviet era and continues to be popular in the post-Soviet era. This book is not just a biographical sketch of an important Russian/Soviet writer basically unknown to the Western public. The focus on Yan and his work also impressively demonstrates the dominant role of ideology in a totalitarian society, which is not just a socio-economic and political system of the past, but could reemerge in the future as ISIS has demonstrated. Shlapentokh shows that ideology and the cultural and intellectual life in totalitarian regimes are more complex than is often assumed. Intellectuals often enough engaged in stressful, but—in its literary outcome—captivating “cat and mouse” games with censors, the powerful, and the government.