ABSTRACT

A systematic overview of life in the Soviet Union, this book includes chapters on the territorial divisions and ethnic composition of the country; the governmental and party system; Russian and minority cultures; the family; education; health care; sports; military service; classes and social privilege; poverty; prices and wages; the economic system, work, and the standard of living. It concludes with a discussion of the impact of Gorbachev's administration on Soviet society and the outlook for the future.

chapter 1|6 pages

Introduction

part 1|1 pages

The Background

chapter 2|8 pages

Russian Tradition

chapter 3|5 pages

Soviet Ideology

part 2|1 pages

The System

chapter 4|5 pages

The State as Owner

chapter 5|4 pages

The Bureaucracy

chapter 6|7 pages

The Party

chapter 7|7 pages

The KGB

chapter 8|4 pages

The Military

chapter 9|8 pages

The Multinational Dimension

part 3|1 pages

The Social Structure

chapter 10|4 pages

The New Middle Class

chapter 11|4 pages

The Working Class

chapter 12|10 pages

The Peasantry

chapter 13|7 pages

The Poor

chapter 14|4 pages

Social Mobility

part 4|1 pages

The Standard of Living

chapter 15|7 pages

Education

chapter 16|5 pages

Health Care

chapter 17|7 pages

Housing

chapter 18|11 pages

Prices and Wages

chapter 19|7 pages

The Demographic Picture

chapter 20|5 pages

The Quality of Life

part 5|1 pages

The Way of Life

chapter 21|5 pages

The Workplace

chapter 22|6 pages

Women’s Roles

chapter 23|7 pages

Youth

chapter 24|6 pages

Fashion

chapter 25|3 pages

Sports

chapter 26|6 pages

Alcohol and Narcotics

part 6|1 pages

Uniformity and Diversity

chapter 27|6 pages

Symbols and Slogans

chapter 28|6 pages

Soviet Culture

chapter 29|6 pages

The Media

chapter 30|7 pages

The Multicultural Dimension

chapter 31|6 pages

Religion

chapter 32|5 pages

Dissent

chapter 33|6 pages

Emigration

chapter 34|10 pages

Foreigners

part 7|1 pages

Postscript

chapter 35|4 pages

Perestroika or Nedostroika?