ABSTRACT
The characteristics of Russia in revolution are the characteristics of the young—great faith, great energy, great industry, fanaticism, intolerance, iconoclasm, erratic judgment. On the favorable side, the revolution has kindled a certain high idealism akin almost to religion—moral indignation, insistence upon social justice, and a passionate hatred of oppression, such as ran through the words of the Hebrew prophets. The group of movements in Russia which are designed to impress adolescents and young people reflect the contagious appeal of communism. In some respects the psychology of the Soviet régime is the psychology of war. The atmosphere of Russia throughout is the atmosphere of war. The Russian leaders have a keen sense of inferiority about their vast country. The Russian workman inherits none of that tradition of skill and craftsmanship of the worker in the industrial countries of the west. Further psychological analysis suggests that the Russian population is suffering from a sort of social paranoia.
