ABSTRACT
This chapter shows how Russia developed during the Soviet era and how, both sociologically and ideologically, social forces consolidated themselves within Russia. It shows that a consciousness was developed that firstly appeared in contrast and to be in competition with developments in western states, and secondly how this consciousness was developed during the Cold War to co-exist and ultimately fit-in with the post-war hegemonic order. In addition, the chapter seeks an explanation of why the Soviet Union, and in particular the dogma of Marxist-Leninism, ultimately failed to provide a viable challenge to western capitalism. It addresses the flaws inherent within the Soviet Union, why the Marxist-Leninist dogmatic model failed to create a credible alternative to the world hegemonic order and more prominently, the sociological nature and historical composition of social forces within Russia.
