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SOVIET POLITICS AT HOME AND ABROAD by Frederick L. Schuman

SOVIET POLITICS AT HOME AND ABROAD

By

Publisher: Knopf

This comes closer to being a history of the Soviet than anything I have read. Against a background of history, Schuman sketches the foundations of the Russian Revolution, the roots of communism and its leadership, the progressive steps, -- party schism over Brest-Litvosk, the reign of terror, the N.E.P. and the 5-years plans, and Russia under the shadow of fascism, more realistic than the western powers. The main part details the development of the Soviet state, the goal -- freedom through destruction of exploitation -- and the inevitability of its acceptance of power politics. Throughout, there are vivid biographical sketches. The last section deals with Russia at war -- with the vacillation which culminated in acceptance of compromise, the United Nations, and with an analysis of the Soviet way of life. Very informative if not inspired reading. The author is Woodrow Wilson Professor of Government at Williams, author of several authoritative books.