Modernization from the Other Shore: American Intellectuals and the Romance of Russian DevelopmentFrom the late nineteenth century to the eve of World War II, America's experts on Russia watched as Russia and the Soviet Union embarked on a course of rapid industrialization. Captivated by the idea of modernization, diplomats, journalists, and scholars across the political spectrum rationalized the enormous human cost of this path to progress. In a fascinating examination of this crucial era, David Engerman underscores the key role economic development played in America's understanding of Russia and explores its profound effects on U.S. policy. American intellectuals from George Kennan to Samuel Harper to Calvin Hoover understood Russian events in terms of national character. Many of them used stereotypes of Russian passivity, backwardness, and fatalism to explain the need for--and the costs of--Soviet economic development. These costs included devastating famines that left millions starving while the government still exported grain. This book is a stellar example of the new international history that seamlessly blends cultural and intellectual currents with policymaking and foreign relations. It offers valuable insights into the role of cultural differences and the shaping of economic policy for developing nations even today. |
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American appeared argued argument August authorities Bolsheviks called century Chamberlin chap Charles Chase Chicago civilization claims collective Communism continued Coolidge costs Counts Crane criticisms cultural December Department described Duranty early economic efforts especially Europe European experts explained expressed famine February Fischer folder Foreign future George Harper Hindus Hoover hoped human ideas important individual industrial instance institutions intellectual interest John journalists July Kelley Kennan later Lyons March Marxism ment Moscow national character nature noted November observers October offered officials organization peasantry peasants Plan political present professional progress relations relief reports Review Robert Robinson rural Russian character scholars Science Secretary social society Soviet Russia Soviet Union tion traits turn United University Press USSR views western World writings wrote York
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Página 5 - ... can give back only the mocking answer that after their death all will be beautiful on earth. Do you truly wish to condemn all human beings alive to-day to the sad role of caryatids supporting a floor for others some day to dance on ... or of wretched galley slaves, up to their knees in mud, dragging a barge filled with some mysterious treasure and with the humble words "progress in the future...
Página 5 - Who is this Moloch who, as the toilers approach him, instead of rewarding them, draws back; and as a consolation to the exhausted and doomed multitudes, shouting "morituri salutant," can only give the mocking answer that after their death all will be beautiful on earth.
Página 378 - WW Rostow, The Stages of Economic Growth: A Non-Communist Manifesto (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1960).