Soviet Humour—Does It Exist? [1951]

Russell's attention falls upon Soviet humour-a deadly serious business for regime and one which performed various functions for a frustrated, resentful and over-burdened, but not necessarily oppositional, citizenry. Yet it is not clear whether a dossier on propaganda value of Soviet humour is among missing documents. Perhaps if the people are to understand what it is that the Soviet Government thinks amusing it may be worth while to reflect a little about humour in other times and places, and let the reader begin by a very cheering reflection. The Wall Street magnate, with a huge paunch and a fat cigar, comes over and over again, so does the sly politician collecting and distributing bribes, so do the brutalized police charging mobs of unemployed, and so do the sly investigators of dangerous thoughts. The hate that they express is purely destructive, and one feels that if it were glutted they would have nothing to do but find fresh objects of hate.