THE POLITICS OF TOTALITARIANISM

by John A. Armstrong ‧ RELEASE DATE: Aug. 31, 1961

The Communist Party of the Soviet Union since 1934, here explored, is the third part of an overall study of Soviet Communism, done under a Ford Foundation grant, by a professor at Univ. of Wisc. The author admits to frustration in seeking real information; what he secured seemed scanty and confusing. Despite this, he manages to sort the facts, supplement them with his own and others' theories and opinions (clearly identified as such), and bring the total to bear on today's present power struggle. If the greatest clearcut issue is war or peace, Dr. Armstrong provides many clues to the outcome. He concludes from the evidence, for example, that Stalin deliberately withheld from international Communists any knowledge of the Nazi-Soviet Pact because he wanted war. When that knowledge was inevitable, they were told that it was important for the degenerate capitalist states to fight among themselves. In addition to such obvious warnings, this analysis throws some light on the ""undispelled murkiness"" of actual conditions in Russia on economic and cultural as well as political fronts. Not light reading, certainly, but crisp and comprehensive enough to make close attention rewarding for the politically-minded. Highly valuable as reference material, especially since a full description of the various source materials was prepared for the State Department and is made available here for consultation.

Pub Date: Aug. 31, 1961

ISBN: N/A

Page Count: -

Publisher: Random House

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 1, 1961

Categories: NONFICTION