Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in
Book cover

Soviet and Russian Press Coverage of the United States pp 110–136Cite as

Palgrave Macmillan

Images of Domestic America

  • Chapter

  • 36 Accesses

Part of the book series: St Antony’s Series ((STANTS))

Abstract

In this Chapter I will explore changes in Soviet press images of domestic America2 in the Gorbachev era and attempt to explain why those changes occurred in specific periods.

Uncritically held, the stereotype not only censors out much that needs to be taken into account, but when the day of reckoning comes, and the stereotype is shattered, likely as not that which it did wisely take into account is ship-wrecked with it.

Walter Lippmann1

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution.

Chapter
USD   29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD   84.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Hardcover Book
USD   109.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Learn about institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Notes

  1. Walter Lippmann, Public Opinion (New York: The Free Press) 1965, p. 74.

    Google Scholar 

  2. Two writers described the progeny of this image of America as follows, ‘Until recently, the main purpose of our foreign propaganda activity was the assertion of the unconditional superiority of socialist values and their fundamental difference from the ideals and moral standards of other cultures.’ TV. Znamenskaya and A.B. Smyagin, ‘Vneshnopoliticheskaya propaganda’, SShA, no. 9, September 1988, p. 26.

    Google Scholar 

  3. Spechler, Permitted Dissent, 1982, p. 255.

    Google Scholar 

  4. Spechler, Permitted Dissent, 1982, p. 171.

    Google Scholar 

  5. Izvestiya, 20 January 1963, quoted in Buzek, How the Communist Press Works, 1964, pp. 56–7.

    Google Scholar 

  6. Shlapentokh, ‘Moscow’s War Propaganda’, 1984, p. 91.

    Google Scholar 

  7. Bar-Tal, David, ‘Delegitimization: The Extreme case of Stereotyping and Prejudice’, in Bar-Tal, C.F. Grauman, A.W. Kruglanski and W. Strobe (eds) Stereotyping and Prejudice — Changing Conceptions (New York: Springer Verlag) 1989, pp. 170 ff. Much of this définition is drawn from Bar-Tal’s definition of delegitimization. See also Murray Edelman, Constructing the Political Spectacle (Chicago: University of Chicago Press) 1988 and Edelman, The Symbolic Uses of Politics (Urbana: University of Illinois Press) 1985.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  8. F. Tishchenko, ‘SOI protiv mira’, Pravda, 7 December 1986, p. 5.

    Google Scholar 

  9. V. Kapralov, ‘Maks, Teks, i inoplanetyane’, Pravda, 3 August 1986, p. 4; A. Meshcherskii, ‘Stoprotsentnyi Amerikanets’, Argumenty i Fakty, no. 32, 5–11 August 1986, p. 4; V. Zhuravsky, ‘Veselye grobovshchiki’, Pravda, 23 August 1986, p. 5; K. Solganik, ‘Rok muzyka — agressivnaya ili progressivnaya’, Argumenty i Fakty, no. 16, 15 April 1986, p. 6.

    Google Scholar 

  10. G. Zlobin, ‘V zerkale Amerikanskogo romana’, Pravda, 22 September 1986, p. 6.

    Google Scholar 

  11. V. Sukhoi, ‘1986 ne dolzhna povtorit’sya’, Pravda, 6 August 1986, p. 4; V. Gan, ‘Iz shkola nenavisti’, Pravda, 23 April 1986, p. 4; V. Soldatov, ‘V krivom zerkale reaktsii’, Izvestiya, 17 February 1986, p. 5.

    Google Scholar 

  12. O. Startseva, ‘Strelyaite i ubivaite’, Literaturnaya Rossiya, 13 June 1986, p. 22; N. Popuridze, ‘Sto sposobov zashchity ot prestupnikov’, Argumenty i Fakty, no. 4, 21–7 January 1986, p. 7; V. Vladimirov, ‘Vospitanie i nakazanie’, Argumenty i Fakty, no. 13, 26 March 1985, p. 4.

    Google Scholar 

  13. L. Koryavin, ‘Zloveshchie standarty’, Izvestiya, 8 April 1985, p. 5; TASS, ‘SShA, Izvestiya, 20 May 1986, p. 4; Y. Gribachev, ‘Korichnevyi chad’, Literaturnaya Rossiya, 17 May 1985, p. 22.

    Google Scholar 

  14. A. Palladin, ‘Sled, ostanavlennyi kastellano’, Izvestiya, 29 December 1985, p. 5; B. Ivanov, ‘Obshchestvo totalnogo strakha’, Izvestiya, 20 April 1985, p. 4.

    Google Scholar 

  15. For the impact of anti-Sovietism on school children see S. Kondrashov, ‘Svidetel’stva ochevidtsa’, Izvestiya, 17 March 1986, p. 5. On a more general level, see G. Vasiliev, ‘Ryadovoi Dzho i mal’chik Piter’, Pravda, 17 February 1986, p. 6; B. Zabirov, ‘S chernogo khoda’, Literaturnaya Rossiya, 3 October 1986, p. 22.

    Google Scholar 

  16. This attitude was reflected by Mikhail Gorbachev in his book Perestroika, when he said, ‘For our part, the Soviet Union has no propaganda of hatred toward Americans or disregard for America. In our country you won’t find this anywhere, either in politics or in education. We criticize a policy we do not agree with. But that’s a different matter. It does not mean that we show disrespect for the American people.’ M.S. Gorbachev, Perestroika, 1987, p. 217.

    Google Scholar 

  17. V. Korotich, ‘Vremya otkrovennosti’, Literaturnaya Rossiya, 19 September 1986, p. 2. Korotich would later become editor-in-chief of the leading reform journal Ogonek.

    Google Scholar 

  18. V. Mikheev, ‘Dyadya Vanya v Luisville’, Izvestiya, 16 September 1986, p. 5; For American support of Soviet initiatives see ‘My vyigraem eto srazhenie’, Pravda, 22 August 1986, p. 4; for letters from Americans supporting Soviet initiatives see V. Sukhoi, ‘Ya odin iz prostykh lyudei Ameriki…’, Pravda, 7 October 1986, p. 4.

    Google Scholar 

  19. V. Gan, ‘Podlinnoe mirolyubie’, Pravda, 24 October 1986, p. 4; Tress konferentsiya G. Khalla’, Pravda, 26 October 1986, p. 4.

    Google Scholar 

  20. J. Meiers, ‘Svezhii veter’, Pravda, 13 January 1986, p. 6.

    Google Scholar 

  21. ‘Zhizn’ i zaboty amerikanskoi pensionerki’, Argumenty i Fakty, no. 1, 1–6 January 1986, pp. 4–5.

    Google Scholar 

  22. V. Simonev, ‘An August Fantasy’, Moscow News, no. 31, 11 August 1986, p. 5; V. Kavaliavski, ‘USA: Anti-Arab Racism’, Moscow News, no. 4, 7 February 1986, p. 4; Art Blakey, ‘U menya konfiskovali svobodu’, Argumenty i Fakty, no. 2, 1986, p. 5.

    Google Scholar 

  23. J. Meiers, ‘Svezhii veter’, Pravda, 13 January 1986, p. 6.

    Google Scholar 

  24. B. Ivanov, ‘Otkrovennyi rasizm’, Izvestiya, 24 May 1985, p. 4.

    Google Scholar 

  25. A. Palladin, ‘Obratnaya storona ‘Ravnopraviya’, Izvestiya, 22 January 1986, p. 4.

    Google Scholar 

  26. A. Palladin, ‘Obratnaya storona ‘Ravnopraviya’, Izvestiya, 22 January 1986, p. 4; L. Koryavin, ‘Tyur’ma dlya tekh, kto khochet mira’, Izvestiya, 11 March 1986, p. 5; V. Gan, ‘Zvonok iz sektora C’, Pravda, 3 January 1986; L. Tolkunov, Arest stachenikov’, Pravda, 9 February 1986, p. 5; S. Yani, ‘Za tyur’emnoi stenoi’, Argumenty i Fakty, no. 22, 27 May–2 June 1986, p. 7; Y. Abdulayeva, ‘We Have Faith in Justice’, Moscow News, no. 3, 26 January 1986, p. 1.

    Google Scholar 

  27. G. Vasiliev, ‘Ne luchshe sebya gospoda, oborotit’sya’, Pravda, 16 June 1986, p. 5.

    Google Scholar 

  28. A. Kuvshinnikov, ‘Dzhozef Mori uletaet domoi’, Izvestiya, 1 September 1986, p. 4; M. Knyazkov, ‘Korsary pera vstrechayut Dz. Mori’, Izvestiya, 2 September 1986, p. 1; N. Paskhin, ‘Eto — Amerika’, Pravda, 16 April 1986, p. 3; Joseph Mauri, ‘Ya odin iz mnogikh’, interview, Argumenty i Fakty, no. 34, 19–25 August 1986, p. 4. For a later article on Mauri, see L. Yeltsova, ‘Mauri’s Last Hope’, Moscow News, no. 22, 31 May 1987, p. 4.

    Google Scholar 

  29. See, for example, ‘Soviet People Send Petition to President Reagan’, Moscow News, 12 April 1987, p. 5; ‘Charles Hyder: I’m not Afraid to Die’, Moscow News, 15 March 1987, p. 5; Interestingly, Pravda’s Viktor Linnik, who worked in the International Information Department then in the Propaganda Department, insisted that Aleksandr Yakovlev was responsible for the campaign. V. Linnik, author interview (New York: December 1989).

    Google Scholar 

  30. V. Linnik, author interview (New York: December 1989); V. Sukhoi, author interview (New York: September 1988).

    Google Scholar 

  31. See, for example, G. Stanishev, ‘Vse khorosho, prekrasnaya markiza’, Argumenty i Fakty, no. 31, 29 July–4 August 1986, p. 7; P. Lukyanchenko, ‘Spasite’ svobodu’, Argumenty i Fakty, no. 40, 30 September–6 October 1986, p. 5.

    Google Scholar 

  32. V. Bol’shakov, ‘Linchuya zdravyi smysl’, Pravda, 11 June 1986, p. 5.

    Google Scholar 

  33. Sukhoi, author interview (New York: September 1988); Fedyashin, author interview (Washington: September 1989); Linnik, author interview (New York: December 1989).

    Google Scholar 

  34. T. Kolisnechenko, ‘V pautine stereotipov’, Pravda, 27 March 1986, p. 4; M. Sabin, ‘Kongress v SShA, Kto v nem i pochemu’, Argumenty i Fakty, no. 6, 1987, p. 5.

    Google Scholar 

  35. For differing views, compare ‘Iz Gazet’, Pravda, 25 March 1985, p. 5, with G Vasiliev, ‘Udar po nadezhdam’, Pravda, 9 September 1986, p. 4; B. Ivanov, ‘Oderzhimye Besom’, Izvestiya, 3 July 1986, p. 5. For a general view on monopoly capitalism see B. Zabirov, ‘S chernogo khoda’, Literaturnaya Rossiya, 3 October 1986, p. 22.

    Google Scholar 

  36. See, for example, V. Mikheev’s article on political action committees, ‘Kak pokupayut kongressmenov’, Izvestiya, 5 January 1986, or B. Ivanov’s on lobbies ‘Chetvertaya vetv’ vlasti’, Izvestiya, 9 June 1986, p. 5.

    Google Scholar 

  37. For a good discussion of State Monopoly Capitalism, see Malcolm, Soviet Political Scientists, 1984, p. 19 ff.

    Google Scholar 

  38. The powerlessness of the people was a frequent subject of discourse. The attitude was summed up well by Pravda’s V. Peresada in 1986. After claiming that 80 per cent of Americans support a nuclear test moratorium, he stated, ‘Of course, the USA has its own treatment of the concept of “democracy”. But, if in general human understanding “democracy” means the “power of the people,” then what kind of democracy is it when not the slightest attention is paid to the opinion of the people.’ V. Peresada, ‘Unikal’nyi Shansi’, Pravda, 14 September 1986, p. 4.

    Google Scholar 

  39. Thomas Kolisnechenko pointed out the particularly base nature of the American ruling elite while describing the attitude of the ruling classes towards the masses: ‘The ruling elite is guided not by the general interests of the nation (which characteristically guide such groups everywhere else in the world) but purely by selfish interests that benefit it alone…’. T. Kolisnechenko, ‘V pautine stereotipov’, Pravda, 27 March 1986, p. 4.

    Google Scholar 

  40. V. Korionov, ‘Za kulisami Belogo Doma’, Pravda, 17 November 1986, p. 5.

    Google Scholar 

  41. See M. Gorbachev, SWB, SU/8389/A1/9, 14 October 1986.

    Google Scholar 

  42. Argumenty i Fakty, no. 46–47, 11–17 November 1986; Y. Gribachev, ‘Na puti k miru’, Literaturnaya Rossiya, no. 10, 6 March 1987, p. 3; M. Sturua, ‘Four Days in August’, Moscow News, no. 35, 7 September 1986, p. 6. Although some of the articles appeared in 1986, they carried the same themes as those in early 1987: ‘Posle Reikyavika vremya deistvii’, Pravda, 16 October 1986, p. 1. Further, on the military-industrial complex see D. Kraminov, ‘Vremya deistvovat’, Literaturnaya Rossiya, 17 October 1986, p. 2; ‘Sila i bessilie’, Pravda, 17 November 1986, p. 6.

    Google Scholar 

  43. A. Buzek, How The Communist Press Works, 1964, p. 58.

    Google Scholar 

  44. Vladimir Sukhoi, ‘Gorod v gorode’, Pravda, 28 March 1987, p. 5.

    Google Scholar 

  45. V. Afanas’ev, ‘Odinadtsat’ dnei za okeanom’, Pravda, 12 January 1987, p. 6.

    Google Scholar 

  46. Sukhoi was very critical of New York in the article which he wrote about his arrival as Pravda’s New York correspondent. V Sukhoi, ‘Ulybaites’: vy — Americantsy’, Pravda, 21 July 1986, p. 6.

    Google Scholar 

  47. See, for example, Sukhoi’s ‘Taims-skver: staroe i novoe’ (Pravda, 3 May 1987, p. 5) about renovations in Times Square; his ‘Robot pomogaet politsii’, about American police robots (Pravda, 24 March 1987, p. 5); V. Prokhorov’s ‘Nad chem smeemsya?’, about American humour (Pravda, 13 May 1987, p. 6); A. Cooperman, ‘Baseball Has Come to Moscow’, Moscow News, no. 28, 12 July 1987, p. 15.

    Google Scholar 

  48. A. Luk’yanov, ‘Kto eta devchonka?’, Pravda, 7 September 1987, p. 7.

    Google Scholar 

  49. A. Shal’nev, ‘Dusha reya Charl’za’, Izvestiya, 4 March 1988, p. 4; A. Ivan’ko, ‘Akter i prodyusor Maikl Duglas’, Izvestiya, 29 March 1988, p. 5; I. Kovalev, ‘Stallone menyaet ampula’, Izvestiya, 29 September 1989, p. 6; A. Ivan’ko, ‘Kumir Amerikantsev’, Izvestiya, 5 January 1990, p. 4.

    Google Scholar 

  50. ‘Greta Garbo — zhizn’ v odinochestve’, Pravda, 17 April 1990, p. 6; V. Sukhoi, ‘Vudstok: tri dnya mira i muzyki’, Pravda, 20 August 1989, p. 5; A. Ladynin, ‘My vse ostavalis’ pyatnadtsatiletnimi…’, Pravda, 3 February 1990, p. 6; V. Sukhoi, ‘Skol’ko stoit Oskar?’, Pravda, 16 May 1988, p. 7; Sukhoi, ‘Teatral’nyi kalendar’ Brodveya’, Pravda, 1 January 1988, p. 5; V. Sukhoi, ‘Gorod vetrov i blyuzov’, Pravda, 7 January 1990, p. 7; V. Sukhoi, ‘Raznotsvetnye avtomobili’, Pravda, 1 October 1988, p. 5. For an earlier example of coverage of the Oscars, see Y. Ustimenko, Argumenty i Fakty, no. 23, 17–23 June 1986, p. 8.

    Google Scholar 

  51. D. Makarov, ‘Vse na prodazhu’, Argumenty i Fakty, no. 21, 21–27 May 1988, p. 7; V. Pozner, ‘Vershki i koreshki… kul’tury’, Argumenty i Fakty, no. 33, 22–28 August 1987, p. 5; G. Konavapov, ‘Vzleti padenie zhurnala’, Argumenty i Fakty, no. 20, 20–26 May 1989, p. 7; N. Soldatenkov, ‘Zhizn’ i smert’ porno svezdy’, Argumenty i Fakty, no. 47, 25 November–1 December 1989, p. 5.

    Google Scholar 

  52. Argumenty i Fakty, no. 7, 13–19 February 1988, p. 8.

    Google Scholar 

  53. V. Linnik, ‘Amerikanets v voskresen’e’, Pravda, 4 April 1988, p. 7.

    Google Scholar 

  54. A general article on Americans’ free time was V. Sukhoi’s ‘Svobodnoe vremya amerikantsev’, Pravda, 9 August 1988, p. 5. For exercise, see V. Gan, ‘Kuda bezhit Amerika’, Pravda, 9 April 1989, p. 5; bingo, V. Sukhoi, ‘Igra i bingo’, Pravda 16 February 1990, p. 7; flea markets, V. Gan, ‘Chego dushe ugodno…’, Pravda, 3 May 1989, p. 5.

    Google Scholar 

  55. Alaska, S. Dardykin, ‘Blizkaya Alyaska’, Izvestiya, 17, 18 March 1989, p. 5; New England, V. Matveev, ‘Ugolok Novoi Anglii’, Izvestiya, 23 October 1989, p. 5; the Amish, V. Sukhoi, ‘Svad’by? Tol’ko po vtornikam’, Pravda, 5 May 1990, p. 7.

    Google Scholar 

  56. V. Sukhoi, ‘Indeika v nebesakh…’, Pravda, 29 November 1986, p. 5. For a comparison with a story he did on hallowe’en, see Sukhoi, ‘Chto takoe khellouin’, Pravda, 22 October 1988, p. 5.

    Google Scholar 

  57. In early 1987, the author of another article on Atlanta spoke of the Ku Klux Klan and concluded that ‘National politics in the USA — it is most of all politics of the violation of human rights, constitutional norms and the violation of international law.’ L. Koryavin, ‘Nasledniki konfederatov’, Izvestiya, 19 February 1987, p. 5. See also L. Koryavin, ‘Ne unesennie vetrom…’, Izvestiya, 30 December 1985, p. 5.

    Google Scholar 

  58. V. Sukhoi, ‘Dva dnya v Atlante’, Pravda, 28 February 1988, p. 4.

    Google Scholar 

  59. On the superiority of Soviet health care, G. Balyuzhenich, ‘SSSR-SShA — Statistika Zdorovya’, Argumenty i Fakty, no. 4, 21–27 January 1986, p. 4; On athletic trainers, V. Kozakov, Trener v SSSR i na Zapade’, Argumenty i Fakty, no. 14, 1–7 April 1986, p. 5; On housing, B. Bulatov, ‘Kak reshaetsya zhilishchnaya problema v SSSR i SShA, Argumenty i Fakty, no. 17, 17–22 April 1986, pp. 4–5.

    Google Scholar 

  60. See ‘Prodolzhitelnost’ zhizni v SSSR’, Argumenty i Fakty, no. 18, 9–15 May 1987, p. 7; Argumenty i Fakty, no. 23, 13–19 June 1987, p. 5. See also V. Linnik, ‘Amerikanets v voskresen’e’, Pravda, 4 April 1987; A. Telyukov, Argumenty i Fakty, #41–42, 17–23 October 1987, pp. 8–9.

    Google Scholar 

  61. They form an interesting contrast with material which Zaichenko and others had produced in earlier periods. A. Zaichenko, ‘Chto takoe cherta bednosti?’, Argumenty i Fakty, no. 16, 15 April 1986, p. 4; ‘Zhizn v SShA i v SSSR glazami amerikantsa’, Argumenty i Fakty, no. 13, 26 March–1 April 1988, p. 6 and no. 15, 9–15 April 1988, p. 5.

    Google Scholar 

  62. A. Zaichenko, ‘On Our Daily Bread’, Moscow News, no. 34, 21 August 1988, p. 12.

    Google Scholar 

  63. ‘Editor’s note’, Moscow News, no. 34, 21 August 1988, p. 12.

    Google Scholar 

  64. A. Zaichenko, ‘Imushchestvennoe neravenstvo’, Argumenty i Fakty, no. 27, 8–14 July 1989, p. 3.

    Google Scholar 

  65. A. Popov, ‘Bogatye i bednye’, Argumenty i Fakty, no. 42, 21–27 October 1989, p. 5.

    Google Scholar 

  66. Scott Shane, ‘Tipichnie Amerikantsy’, Argumenty i Fakty, no. 45, 5–11 November 1988, p. 4; A. Telyukov, Argumenty i Fakty, no. 35, 27 August–2 September 1988, p. 8; Argumenty i Fakty, no. 33, 22–28 August 1987, p. 5. In the next period, for more information on lifespan, GNP, and pensions, see Argumenty i Fakty, no. 41–42, 17–23 October 1987, p. 8.

    Google Scholar 

  67. An example of the new more analytical approach is A. Lopukhin’s analysis of racism. See ‘Chernaya Amerika: Vzglyad iznutri’, Pravda, 6 October 1989, p. 6.

    Google Scholar 

  68. A. Shal’nev, ‘Konflikt v Brukline’, Izvestiya, 14 May 1990, p. 5.

    Google Scholar 

  69. Calery Chalidze, ‘Socio-Economic Rights — East vs. West’, Moscow News, no. 3, 21 January 1990, p. 6.

    Google Scholar 

  70. P. Moss and Dzhon Sveidi, Amerikantsy sami o sebe’, Pravda, 18 July 1988, p. 1; Djek Toma and Karl Gutekanst, ‘Amerikantsy pishut v Moskvu’, Pravda, 12 September 1988, p. 6.

    Google Scholar 

  71. A. Lyuty, ‘Uilmingtonskoe delo’, Pravda, 5 February 1989, p. 5.

    Google Scholar 

  72. B. Ivanov, ‘Chetvertaya vetv’ vlasti’, Izvestiya, 9 June 1986, p. 5, V. Mikheev, ‘Kak pokupayut kongressmenov’, Izvestiya, 5 January 1986, p. 5.

    Google Scholar 

  73. L. Koryavin, ‘Tret’ya palata kongressa: Lobbi-professiya, yavlenie politicheskaya traditsiya v SShA, Izvestiya, 21 October 1988, p. 5.

    Google Scholar 

  74. Amy Elizabeth Ansell, New Right, New Racism (New York: New York University Press) 1997, pp. 33–48. One may refer here to Ansell’s notion of ‘symbolic conflict’ which is concerned with ‘the struggle over the set of meanings which helps to determine the mental criteria by which the distribution of (material or political) resources are perceived and judged’. New Right, p. 35. On the importance of symbols and the creation of meaning, see Murray Edelman, Constructing the Political Spectacle (Chicago: University of Chicago Press) 1988 and The Symbolic Uses of Politics (Urbana: University of Illinois Press) 1985; Pierre Boudrieu, Language and Symbolic Power (Cambridge: Harvard University Press) 1991, and Ansell, New Right. Those who write about language and political power, of course, rely on broader analyses of language, action and thought of theorists such as Foucault, Derrida and Habermas.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  75. ‘Sokhranyaet zrenie’, Izvestiya, 17 January 1986, p. 5; D. Vasilieyev, ‘Two Models’, Moscow News, 20 October 1985, p. 12; B. Alexeyev, ‘The Less Misunderstanding the Better’, Moscow News, 10 October 1985, p. 4. Even specialty journals were slow to change. For example, SShA, the journal of the Institute for the Study of the United States and Canada, only showed minor changes until 1988. R. Mills, As Moscow Sees Us, 1990, p. 136. For a broader discussion on SShA, see Malcolm, Political Scientists, 1984, p. 160 ff.

    Google Scholar 

  76. V. Medvedev, ‘Sovremennaya kontseptsiya sotsializma’, Pravda, 5 October 1988, p. 4.

    Google Scholar 

  77. Vladimir Sukhoi, ‘Izobresti… lestnitsu’, Pravda, 23 March 1987, p. 5.

    Google Scholar 

  78. G. Vasiliev, ‘Esli ne zavoditsya avtomobil”, Pravda, 13 July 1987, p. 7.

    Google Scholar 

  79. S.M. Geints, ‘V odin ruki…’, Pravda, 7 September 1987, p. 7.

    Google Scholar 

  80. Editor V. Afanas’ev estimated that in 1988 Pravda would receive 800,000 letters. SWB, SU/0146/B/2, 9 May 1988. On letters to the editor, see Dzirkals, Gustafson and Johnson, Inter-Elite Communication, 1982, p. 67.

    Google Scholar 

  81. See the following articles: design — V. Sukhoi, ‘Luchshee-vrag khoroshego: Zametki o promyshlennom dizaine v SShA’, Pravda, 1 September 1989, p. 6; management, A. Blinov, ‘Professiya-menedzher: Kak i chemu uchat upravlyayushchykh amerikanskykh firm’, Izvestiya, 9 September 1988, p. 5; product guarantees, V. Gan, ‘Pust’ nadoe-dayut…’, Pravda, 8 August 1988, p. 7; research and development, A. Shal’nev, ‘Esli u tebya est’ ideya…’, Izvestiya, 4 August 1988, p. 5; the use of modern technology — V. Sukhoi, ‘U menya zazvonil telefon’, Pravda, 9 September 1988, p. 6; overnight delivery, Pravda, ‘V pogone za vremenem’, 7 May 1987, p. 5; A. Zaichenko, ‘Pensioners and Pensions’, Moscow News, no. 2, 8 January 1989, p. 10.

    Google Scholar 

  82. On books, see G. Vasiliev, ‘Chtoby uberech’ pamyat’ chelovechestva’, Pravda, 27 July 1987, p. 7 and L. Koryavin, ‘Za vitrinoi Kraun buk’, Izvestiya, 25 December 1987, p. 5; farming chemicals — G Vasiliev, ‘Murman’, fermer Rich i drugie’, Pravda, 11 June 1987, p. 4.

    Google Scholar 

  83. On abortion — V. Linnik, ‘Esli vybor sdelan: Kak rabotaet ginologicheskaya klinika v SShA’, Pravda, 16 September 1989, p. 5; On restaurants — A. Shal’nev, ‘Libo plati, libo soblyudai chistotu’, Izvestiya, 19 March 1988, p. 6. The article described government inspections of New York restaurants.

    Google Scholar 

  84. On parks — V. Sukhoi, ‘Voz’mite s soboi vospominaniya’, Pravda, 20 June 1988, p. 7; healthcare — V. Gan, ‘Polpredy dobroty’, Pravda, 8 December 1989, p. 6; archival information — D. Raleigh and O. Teryokhin, ‘The Trials and Tribulations of Professor Raleigh’, Moscow News, 14 August 1988, p. 2; freedom of information — Argumenty i Fakty, no. 40, 1–7 October 1988, p. 8; theatre — V. Linnik, ‘Dzhon Dzhori i ego rebyata’, Pravda, 31 May 1990, p. 6. The latter was interesting, because the author, Viktor Linnik, explained in some detail how personal, corporate and foundation donations sustained the company. He then sent a message to Soviet troupes: ‘I think that these details are not without interest for some of our statesmen of art, our leaders of theaters, groaning about the dominance of native bureaucrats, but not thinking about rejecting government donations.’

    Google Scholar 

  85. A. Shal’nev, ‘V park, na operu’, Izvestiya, 11 September 1988, p. 5.

    Google Scholar 

  86. On professionalism and ethics — Kerri Woods, ‘Zhizn’ v politike’, Argumenty i Fakty, no. 25, 24–30 June 1989, p. 6; V. Savelyev, ‘Soviets Appreciate US Congress’ Ethics’, Moscow News, no. 46, 12 November 1989, p. 10; V. Gan, ‘Na ostrie britvy’, Pravda, 11 December 1989, p. 7. The articles were complimentary about the standards of the US Congress and were thus different from traditional approaches. The US Congress at its core was traditionally presented as a bastion of the ruling elite which was dominated by interests of their class and constantly swayed by leading monopolies, the military-industrial complex. M. Savin, ‘Kongress SShA: Kto v nem i pochcmu?’, Argumenty i Fakty, no. 6, 14–20 February 1987, p. 5; V. Soldatov, ‘Tryuki vmesto debatov’, Izvestiya, 3 December 1985, p. 5 about the absence of Senate debate and its class-oriented nature. It should be noted that there were sometimes countervailing messages concerning individual Congressmen, some of whom were singled out for their liberal attitudes and who served, in effect, as middlemen between the reactionary Reagan administration and the increasingly progressive American public. N. Kurdyumov, ‘Mnenie obozrevatelya’, Pravda, 25 April 1985, p. 5; TASS, ‘Pora prezidentu otkazat’sya’, Pravda, 15 February 1986, p. 5; on local governments — L. Koryavin, ‘SShA: Vlast na mestakh, podchinena zakonu i izbiratelyam’, Izvestiya, 26 March 1990, p. 5; on civil service — A. Shal’nev, ‘Shkola Byurokratii: Kak gotovyat pravitel’stvennykh chinovnikov v SShA’, Izvestiya, 3 April 1989, p. 5; on complaints against government — A. Shal’nev, ‘Nado pozhalovatsya? Net problem!’, Izvestiya, 11 July 1989, p. 5; on state natural disasters — L. Strzhizhovskii, ‘Zemletryasenie i my’, Pravda, 21 November 1989, p. 5.; on the FBI — A. Shal’nev, ‘Odin den’ v Akademii FBR’, Izvestiya, 23 May 1990, p. 5.

    Google Scholar 

  87. Remington, ‘A Socialist Pluralism of Opinions,’ 1989, pp. 281–2.

    Google Scholar 

  88. The law was published in Pravda on 6 March 1988 (See ‘O kooperatsii v SSSR,’ p. 2 ff.). The law was ultimately passed in June. For debate on the law, see A. Protsenko, ‘Proekt odobren’, Izvestiya, 24 May 1988, p. 3. See also J. Tedstrom, ‘Soviet Cooperatives: A Difficult Road to Legitimacy’, Radio Liberty Research Bulletin, 224/88, 31 May 1988.

    Google Scholar 

  89. V. Gan, ‘Tri dnya v zhizni ADM’, Pravda, 27 May 1988, p. 6.

    Google Scholar 

  90. ‘Tezisy Tsentral’nogo Komiteta KPSS k XIX Vsesoyuznoi partiinoi konferentsii’, Izvestiya, 27 May 1988 p. 1 ff.

    Google Scholar 

  91. V. Sukhoi, ‘22 milliona — c odnoi “vilki”’, Pravda, 10 May 1988, p. 5.

    Google Scholar 

  92. See V. Sukhoi, ‘Rybnoe chrevo N’yu-Iorka’, Pravda, 26 September 1988, p. 7, about a cooperative which sells fish; V. Sukhoi, ‘Klyukovayagoda’, Pravda, 3 April 1989, p. 7, about Ocean-Spray cranberry cooperative.

    Google Scholar 

  93. D. Shnyukas, ‘Dub, dikaya roza i shchegol’, Pravda, 5 September 1988, p. 7; V. Ryabchun, ‘Kak ya byl Amerikanskim fermerom’, Izvestiya, 28 February 1989, p. 3; V. Matusevich, ‘Prizrak Fermera’, Izvestiya, 23 March 1990, p. 6; W. Sloane and A. Bekker, ‘A Socialist Farm in the State of Ohio’, Moscow News, no. 28, 9 July 1989, p. 6. On the plenum, see CDSP, vol. xl, no. 9, p. 1 ff.

    Google Scholar 

  94. L. Lyubimov, ‘V plebu stereotipa, ili o tom, kak rabotaet plyuralizm sobstvennosti pri kapitalizme’, Izvestiya, 9 February 1990, p. 5.

    Google Scholar 

  95. ‘Pora zadumat’sya vser’ez’, Pravda, 3 March 1987, p. 4.

    Google Scholar 

  96. CDSP, 27 July 1988, vol. xl, no. 26, p. 11. While democratization had been spoken of often since January 1987, there were not really any major steps taken towards it until 1988.

    Google Scholar 

  97. Archie Brown, ‘Political Change in the Soviet Union’, World Policy Journal, vol. vi, no. 3, Summer 1989, p. 477 ff. See B. Konovalov, ‘Taim’ konstitutsiya SShA i poluchasnost’ ‘, Argumenty i Fakty, no. 30, 1–7 August 1987, pp. 4–5. There was significant criticism of the US Constitution as a whole, including an anti-American propaganda campaign on the eve of its 200th anniversary. See ‘Bil o pravakh’, Argumenty i Fakty, no. 12, 28 March–3 April 1987, p. 1; A. Meshcherskii, ‘Na krylyakh demokratii’, Argumenty i Fakty, no. 14, 11–17 April 1987, p. 1; V. Simonov, ‘The Scorched Constitution’, Moscow News, no. 20, 17 May 1987, p. 3.

    Google Scholar 

  98. Gorbachev stated, ‘Thus, one may say, comrades that our socialist system of ‘checks and balances’ is taking shape in this country, designed to protect society against any violation of socialist legality at the highest state level.’ Quoted in Brown, ‘Political Change in the Soviet Union’, 1989, p. 478.

    Google Scholar 

  99. The concept of checks and balances had received attention earlier in the Gorbachev period. Archie Brown traces it back to a meeting of the Soviet Association of Political Sciences in February 1987 which was presided over by Georgi Shakhnazarov, informal adviser to Mikhail Gorbachev and soon to be named pomoshchnik, one of four formal aides. At the same meeting, it was suggested that relevant Western theoretical writings about the subject should be taken into consideration. Brown, ‘Political Change in the Soviet Union’, 1989, p. 477 ff.

    Google Scholar 

  100. A. Mishin, ‘Dve storony filadel’fskogo chuda’, Izvestiya, 19 September 1987. In Argumenty i Fakty, a Soviet jurist, while rejecting the concept of separation of powers, called for the Supreme Soviet to have a measure of constitutional oversight. This was perhaps a sign of nascent change and one of the first examples of learning from the American political system. ‘Diskusii s Amerikanskami prokurorami’, Argumenty i Fakty, no. 43, 24–30 October 1987, p. 8.

    Google Scholar 

  101. S. Kondrashov, ‘Dolgii vzglyad na Ameriku: Menyayushchiesya obrazy v menyayushchemsya mire’, Moskovskie Novosti, 2 October 1988, pp. 6–7.

    Google Scholar 

  102. Viktor Linnik, ‘Koe-chto ob iskusstve sokhranit’ respubliku’, Pravda, 14 November 1988, p. 6.

    Google Scholar 

  103. See, for example V. Gan, ‘Osen’ v kapitolii: Novaya sessiya kongressa SShA, Pravda, 2 October 1989, p. 7, and A. Blinov, ‘Prikhoditsya iskat’ zamenu’, Izvestiya, 10 March 1989, p. 5. V. Nadein, in his article ‘Nichego, krome zakona’, considered the separation of powers to be of lesser importance than guarantees of individual rights, but was complimentary about both and particularly about American democracy. Izvestiya, 24 February 1990, p. 5.

    Google Scholar 

  104. V. Nadein, ‘Nichego, krome zakona: Predely i vozmozhnosti presidentskoi vlasti’, Izvestiya, 24 February 1990, p. 5. See also, V. Dolganov and A. Stepovoi, ‘V povestke dnya — vopros o prezidentstve’, Izvestiya, 21 February 1990, p. 1; E. Teague, Radio Liberty Research Bulletin, 9 March 1990, pp. 12–13.

    Google Scholar 

  105. S. Kondrashov, ‘Mnogopartiinost’ — fundament demokratii’, Izvestiya, 5 March 1990, p. 3.

    Google Scholar 

  106. L. Koryavin, ‘Dvorets devyati mudretsov: Verkhovnyi sud v sisteme amerikanskoi yurisprudentsii’, Izvestiya, 25 May 1990, p. 7. For other articles laudatory of the American legal system, see also V. Linnik, ‘Sud prisyazhnykh v SShA, Pravda, 6 December 1989, p. 5, and an interview with American jurists, ‘Razreshat’ vygodnee, chem zapreshchat”, Izvestiya, 12 April 1989, p. 5.

    Google Scholar 

  107. For Lithuania see CDSP vol. xli, no. 7, pp. 6–7; Moldavia — E. Kondratov, ‘Uslyshat’ drug druga’, Izvestiya, 31 January 1989, p. 3. There were also increasing demonstrations in the Ukraine among other republics. See Bohadan Nahaylo, ‘Inaugural Conference of Ukrainian Language Society Turns into Major Political Demonstration’, Radio Liberty Research Bulletin, vol. 1, no. 9, 3 March 1989, pp. 13–17; Don Ionescu, ‘Soviet Moldavia: A Breakthrough on the Alphabet Issue’, Radio Liberty Research Bulletin, vol. 1, no. 12, 24 March 1989, pp. 25–8.

    Google Scholar 

  108. A short article in Pravda which appeared at the same time pointed out that the states ‘do not have the right to leave the federation of their own will’. ‘Chto takoe amerikanskii federalizm?’, Pravda, 26 February 1989, p. 4.

    Google Scholar 

  109. L. Koryavin, ‘Amerikanskii federalizm: korni i vetvi’, Izvestiya, 8 February 1989, p. 5.

    Google Scholar 

  110. L. Koryavin, ‘Amerikanskii federalizm: korni i vetvi’, Izvestiya, 8 February 1989, p. 5.

    Google Scholar 

  111. L. Koryavin, ‘Zakony vlasti — zakony protivovesov’, Izvestiya, 9 March 1990, p. 5.

    Google Scholar 

  112. A. Shal’nev, ‘V park, na operu’, Izvestiya, 11 September 1988, p. 5.

    Google Scholar 

  113. In an article on a Louisville theatre troupe, Pravda’s Viktor Linnik addressed not only the artistic quality of the troupe, but its entrepreneurial qualities in pursuit of personal, corporate and private donations: ‘I think that these details are not without interest for some of our statesmen of art, our leaders of theaters, groaning about the dominance of native bureaucrats, but not thinking about rejecting government donations.’ V Linnik, ‘Dzhon Dzhori i ego rebyata’, Pravda, 31 May 1990, p. 6.

    Google Scholar 

  114. A. Lyutyi, ‘Nam sverkhu vidno vse’, Pravda, 26 May 1989, p. 7.

    Google Scholar 

  115. Melor Sturua, ‘Ogneopasnyi stereotip’, Izvestiya, 12 June 1988, p. 1, and A. Shal’nev, ‘V kogo strelyaet Rembo’, Izvestiya, 24 May 1988, p. 4.

    Google Scholar 

  116. T. Kolisnichenko, ‘Neuzhto snova k bar’eru?’, Pravda, 15 April 1990, p. 7.

    Google Scholar 

  117. A similar concern about the military-industrial complex was also voiced by Pravda’s Vitalii Korionov, ‘Est o chem pogovorit?’, Pravda, 18 September 1989, p. 6.

    Google Scholar 

  118. P. Bogomolov, ‘Grani dukhovnoi razryadki’, Pravda, 25 June 1990, p. 6.

    Google Scholar 

  119. To give an idea of the degree of change, an author, responding to a reader’s question about minority representation in the American Congress, placed a greater stress on increasing minority representation throughout all levels of American government than on their remarkably low levels of representation. See S. Cheremin, ‘Monopoliya ne vechna’, Pravda, 22 October 1989, p. 4.

    Google Scholar 

  120. Indeed, in the middle of 1988, just prior to the Moscow Summit, the liberal Moscow News participated in the anti-American campaign, publishing letters and articles in three consecutive issues criticizing American human rights violations. V. Simonov, ‘A Subject to Discuss with the US President’, Moscow News, no. 18, 1 May 1988, p. 3; E. Cheporov, ‘Deprived of our Freedom’, Moscow News, no. 19, 8 May 1988, p. 5.

    Google Scholar 

  121. Linnik, author interview (New York: December 1989).

    Google Scholar 

  122. Although the primary leaders seemed to have some affinity with social-democratic states, there was a distinct coolness amongst many, including Aleksandr Yakovlev and Mikhail Gorbachev, towards the United States. Moreover, it was quite clear that Gorbachev and his allies’ side of the leadership was interested in restructuring socialism, not creating an American-style system. This was evident from the General Secretary’s address in opposition to Yeltsin’s candidacy for the chairmanship of the Russian Supreme Soviet in May 1990, when he criticized Yeltsin for not once referring to ‘socialism’ in his candidacy speech, and for his attempt to ‘with one stroke of the pen… invite us to bid farewell to the socialist choice of 1917’. CDSP, vol. xlii, no. 21, 27 June 1990, p. 4. Bill Keller wrote of Aleksandr Yakovlev, ‘Yakovlev assuredly does not see America as a model for his country. Like many European leftists he argues that intellectual freedom and economic pluralism can be had without America’s insularity, urban underclass and mass culture of rock, sex and violence.’ Bill Keller, ‘Moscow’s Other Mastermind’, New York Times Magazine, 19 February 1989, p. 51.

    Google Scholar 

  123. Y. Gribachev, author interview (Moscow: May 1990). Indeed, Literaturnaya Rossiya’s was consistently more critical of domestic America than any of the other four publications consulted. As early as July 1987, it warned that reform proposals, such as those by economist N. Shmelev and writer A. Strelyanii, threatened to turn the Soviet Union into a ‘second America’. The author, Mikhail Antonov, made it clear that ‘What we need is not a second America, but an inviolable union of free people which unite around great Russia.’ M. Antonov, ‘Perestroika: Ekonomika i Moral”, Literaturnaya Rossiya, 31 July 1987, pp. 2–3. See also O.T. Lefchenko and R.A. Galtsevoi, ‘Rok-n-roll, ili naplyv muzykalnogo neistovstva’, Literaturnaya Rossiya, 5 May 1989, pp. 16–17.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Bard College, USA

    Jonathan A. Becker (Dean of Students and Dean of Studies)

Authors
  1. Jonathan A. Becker
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Copyright information

© 1999 Jonathan A. Becker

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Becker, J.A. (1999). Images of Domestic America. In: Soviet and Russian Press Coverage of the United States. St Antony’s Series. Palgrave Macmillan, London. https://doi.org/10.1057/9780230598423_8

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation