What will I learn about: why the Soviet Union banned psychology and sociology in the 1920s, actively suppressing self-reflection to mold citizens into unquestioning cogs of the Marxist machine?

Discover why the Soviet Union banned psychology and sociology in the 1920s, actively suppressing self-reflection to mold citizens into unquestioning cogs of the Marxist machine.

What will I learn about: how decades of censored social sciences left Russian leaders dangerously out of touch with the public, ultimately sabotaging Gorbachev's progressive reforms in the 1980s?

Understand how decades of censored social sciences left Russian leaders dangerously out of touch with the public, ultimately sabotaging Gorbachev's progressive reforms in the 1980s.

What will I learn about: Learn how the sudden collapse of the Communist Party was accelerated by self-serving officials who exploited the restructuring period solely to gain political power?

Learn how the sudden collapse of the Communist Party was accelerated by self-serving officials who exploited the restructuring period solely to gain political power.

What will I learn about: Explore the deep psychological toll of the 1990s Soviet collapse, a time when rapid privatization and economic freefall left everyday citizens grappling with terrifying uncertainty?

Explore the deep psychological toll of the 1990s Soviet collapse, a time when rapid privatization and economic freefall left everyday citizens grappling with terrifying uncertainty.

What will I learn about: how sudden freedom and overwhelming chaos create the perfect psychological conditions for an anxious society to willingly embrace a new authoritarian ruler?

Find out how sudden freedom and overwhelming chaos create the perfect psychological conditions for an anxious society to willingly embrace a new authoritarian ruler.

The Future Is History

How Totalitarianism Reclaimed Russia

Masha Gessen

★ 4.1 / 5(103 ratings)

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Categories:

History

If You're Curious About These Questions...

You should listen to this audiobook

💡Have you ever wondered how a nation that appeared to embrace democracy after the fall of the Soviet Union could slide so quickly back into a new, even more complex form of totalitarianism?
💡Did you know that the ghost of the 'Soviet person' continues to haunt modern Russia, and what specific sociological forces are being used to turn the clock back on history?
💡Are you curious about the hidden turning points in the lives of ordinary citizens that explain why Russia’s future looks so much like its dark past?

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Key Takeaways from The Future Is History

✓Discover why the Soviet Union banned psychology and sociology in the 1920s, actively suppressing self-reflection to mold citizens into unquestioning cogs of the Marxist machine.
✓Understand how decades of censored social sciences left Russian leaders dangerously out of touch with the public, ultimately sabotaging Gorbachev's progressive reforms in the 1980s.
✓Learn how the sudden collapse of the Communist Party was accelerated by self-serving officials who exploited the restructuring period solely to gain political power.
✓Explore the deep psychological toll of the 1990s Soviet collapse, a time when rapid privatization and economic freefall left everyday citizens grappling with terrifying uncertainty.
✓Find out how sudden freedom and overwhelming chaos create the perfect psychological conditions for an anxious society to willingly embrace a new authoritarian ruler.

Learning Tools

Reinforce what you learned from The Future Is History

Mind Map

The Future Is History

Soviet Intellectual Void+

Chaos of the 1990s+

Yearning for the Past+

Putin's Ascent+

The Authoritarian State+

Weaponized Bigotry+

Quiz — Test Your Understanding

Question 1 of 9

Why did the Soviet Union ban the study of psychology and sociology in the 1920s?

A. Marxism promoted an ideal man who found purpose as a cog in the machine, making individual self-reflection insignificant.
B. The disciplines relied on Western funding which was heavily sanctioned by the Soviet government.
C. The government believed that these sciences would easily expose the corruption of high-ranking Communist officials.
D. Sigmund Freud personally refused to allow his works to be published in the Russian language.

Question 2 of 9

According to psychologist Erich Fromm, what condition in 1990s Russia primed the country for an authoritarian takeover?

A. A sudden exposure to Western media that glorified strong, dictatorial leaders.
B. A deep-seated cultural tradition of monarchy that the Russian people naturally reverted to after communism.
C. The terrifying uncertainty and loss of a stable future that made citizens want someone to make difficult choices for them.
D. The widespread anger over the loss of territories like Lithuania and Kaliningrad.

Question 3 of 9

What was a major psychological impact of the legalization of private commerce and open borders in the early 1990s?

A. Citizens experienced unprecedented levels of jealousy and resentment because wealth disparities became highly visible.
B. Russians felt a renewed sense of national pride as their economy quickly outpaced neighboring European countries.
C. The population became highly motivated to start small businesses, leading to a golden age of entrepreneurship.
D. People largely ignored the economic changes since the government continued to guarantee universal basic income.

Question 4 of 9

Why was the 1995 movie 'Old Songs About the Most Important Things' such a massive hit in Russia?

A. It was the first Russian film to openly criticize the atrocities committed under Joseph Stalin.
B. It provided a thrilling, action-packed narrative that distracted citizens from the ongoing war in Chechnya.
C. It featured popular Western actors, symbolizing Russia's new integration with the global community.
D. It offered a comforting, plotless portrayal of 'simpler times' without the conflicts and worries of modern life.

Question 5 of 9

What specific event in 1999 allowed Vladimir Putin to contrast himself with Boris Yeltsin and project a much-desired image of strength and stability?

A. His successful negotiation of a peace treaty with separatist leaders in Chechnya.
B. His aggressive economic reforms that immediately stabilized the falling value of the ruble.
C. His steely, decisive response to a string of deadly apartment-building bombings.
D. His public denunciation of the Communist Party during a tense standoff in Crimea.

Question 6 of 9

How did the Kremlin under Putin attempt to discredit political critics like Andreas Umland?

A. By publishing their secret bank records to prove they were embezzling state funds.
B. By accusing them of having pedophilic proclivities and making homosexual advances.
C. By framing them as undercover agents working for the United States CIA.
D. By claiming they were secretly trying to reinstate the Soviet Union's Communist Party.

Question 7 of 9

What troubling sociological trend did Russian pollsters notice between 1989 and 2003 regarding historical figures?

A. Citizens completely forgot who Vladimir Lenin was due to new educational policies.
B. A growing majority of Russians believed that Mikhail Gorbachev was the greatest leader in history.
C. People consistently voted for Western democratic leaders over any Russian historical figures.
D. Josef Stalin's ranking as one of the 'greatest Russians' rose significantly, indicating an equation of greatness with power.

Question 8 of 9

What specific political maneuver sparked massive civil rights protests in Russia between 2011 and 2013?

A. The sudden outlawing of the Russian Orthodox Church.
B. The Kremlin's decision to default on all international loans and exit the global market.
C. The announcement that Dmitry Medvedev would hand the presidency back to Vladimir Putin.
D. The government's refusal to hold any elections at the local or mayoral level.

Question 9 of 9

What psychological theory did Marina Arutyunyan use to explain the shift from feelings of 'stability' to panic attacks among her patients as new oppressive laws were passed?

A. Carl Jung's concept of the 'collective unconscious.'
B. Erich Fromm's theory of 'authoritarian submission.'
C. Ivan Pavlov's theory of 'classical conditioning' in response to state media.
D. Sigmund Freud's theory of a 'death drive,' a self-destructive feeling following trauma.