Russian Utopia: A Century of Revolutionary Possibilities (Russian Shorts)

Mark D. Steinberg explores the work of individuals he recognizes as utopians during the most dramatic period in Russian and Soviet history. It has long been a cliché to argue that Russian revolutionary movements have been inspired by varieties of ‘utopian dreaming’ – claims which, although not wrong, are too often used uncritically. For the first time, Russian Utopians digs deeper and asks what utopians meant at the level of ideas, emotions, and lived experience. Despite the fact that many would have resisted the ‘utopian’ label at the time because of its dismissive meanings, Steinberg’s comprehensive approach sees him take in political leaders, intellectuals, writers, and artists (visual, material, and musical), as well as workers, peasants, soldiers, students and others; ideologically, the figures discussed range from reactionaries to anarchists, nationalists (including non-Russians) to feminists, both religious believers and ‘the militant godless’: the text dissects the very notion of the Russian utopian and examines its significance in its various fascinating contexts. Winner of the 2022 Choice Outstanding Academic Titles Mark D. Steinberg explores the work of individuals he recognizes as utopians during the most dramatic period in Russian and Soviet history. It has long been a cliché to argue that Russian revolutionary movements have been inspired by varieties of 'utopian dreaming' – claims which, although not wrong, are too often used uncritically. For the first time, Russian Utopian digs deeper and asks what utopians meant at the level of ideas, emotions, and lived experience. Despite the fact that many would have resisted the 'utopian' label at the time because of its dismissive meanings, Steinberg's comprehensive approach sees him take in political leaders, intellectuals, writers, and artists (visual, material, and musical), as well as workers, peasants, soldiers, students and others. Ideologically, the figures discussed range from reactionaries to anarchists, nationalists (including non-Russians) to feminists, both religious believers and 'the militant godless'. This innovative text dissects the very notion of the Russian utopian and examines its significance in its various fascinating contexts. "Mark D. Steinberg explores the work of individuals he recognizes as utopians during the most dramatic period in Russian and Soviet history. It has long been a cliché to argue that Russian revolutionary movements have been inspired by varieties of 'utopian dreaming' - claims which, although not wrong, are too often used uncritically. For the first time, Russian Utopian digs deeper and asks what utopians meant at the level of ideas, emotions, and lived experience. Despite the fact that many would have resisted the 'utopian' label at the time because of its dismissive meanings, Steinberg's comprehensive approach sees him take in political leaders, intellectuals, writers, and artists (visual, material, and musical), as well as workers, peasants, soldiers, students and others. Ideologically, the figures discussed range from reactionaries to anarchists, nationalists (including non-Russians) to feminists, both religious believers and 'the militant godless'. This innovative text dissects the very notion of the Russian utopian and examines its significance in its various fascinating contexts"-- Provided by publisher Mark D. Steinberg explores the work of individuals he recognizes as utopians during the most dramatic period in Russian and Soviet history. It has long been a cliche to argue that Russian revolutionary movements have been inspired by varieties of 'utopian dreaming' - claims which, although not wrong, are too often used uncritically. For the first time, Russian Utopian digs deeper and asks what utopians meant at the level of ideas, emotions, and lived experience. Despite the fact that many would have resisted the 'utopian' label at the time because of its dismissive meanings, Steinberg's comprehensive approach sees him take in political leaders, intellectuals, writers, and artists (visual, material, and musical), as well as workers, peasants, soldiers, students and others. Ideologically, the figures discussed range from reactionaries to anarchists, nationalists (including non-Russians) to feminists, both religious believers and 'the militant godless'. This innovative text dissects the very notion of the Russian utopian and examines its significance in its various fascinating contexts Half Title Title Page Copyright Page Contents Figures Acknowledgments Introduction Chapter 1: Wings of Utopia Chapter 2: The New Person A “Mirror of Truth” in the Name of “Man” “The Fate of the Person Is More Important Than the Fate of the Whole World” “New Women”: Dignity and Freedom in Life and Love Socialism: For Individual and Community “How a Communist Should Live” Chapter 3: The New City The Dream of the New: St. Petersburg Through “Gardens of Iron and Granite” and the “Hell of Smoke, Torment, and Death” The Transcendent City of Socialism The Communist New Rome Chapter 4: The New State Order and Love Virtue and the Common Good “There Is Not and Cannot Ever Be a Good, Just, and Moral State” The Commune State: Dictatorship and Democracy “To Conduct Our Lives According to Our Own Will and Our Own Conception of Truth” People’s Power “We Are Bound by No Laws. There Are No Fortresses That Bolsheviks Cannot Storm” Conclusion Notes Acknowledgments Introduction Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapter 3 Chapter 4 Conclusion Selected Further Readings Russian Utopia The Concept of Utopia Index List of Figures -- Acknowledgements -- Introduction -- 1. Wings of Utopia -- 2. The New Person -- 3. The New City -- 4. The New State -- Selected Further Reading -- Index