This fascinating documentary history is the first English-language exploration of Joseph Stalin's relationship with, and manipulation of, the Soviet political police. The story follows the changing functions, organization, and fortunes of the political police and security organs from the early 1920s until Stalin’s death in 1953, and it provides documented detail about how Stalin used these organs to achieve and maintain undisputed power. Although written as a narrative, it includes translations of more than 170 documents from Soviet archives.
Considered one of Russia’s greatest philosophers, Vladimir Soloviev (1853–1900) was also a theologian, historian, poet, and social and political critic. His works have emerged to enjoy renewed attention in post–Soviet Russia, and his concerns echo in contemporary discussions of politics, law, and morality. In this collection of Soloviev’s essays—many translated into English for the first time—the philosopher explores an array of social issues, from the death penalty to nationalism to women’s rights. Soloviev reacts against the tradition of European rationalist thought and seeks to synthesize religious philosophy, science, and ethics in the context of a universal Christianity. In these writings he reveals the centrality of human rights in his Christian worldview, not only as an abstract theory but also as an inspiration in everyday life. In a substantive introduction and copious annotations to the essays, Vladimir Wozniuk points out distinctive and often overlooked features of Soloviev’s works while illuminating his place within both the Russian and Western intellectual traditions.
This personification of wisdom with golden hair and a radiant aura echoes both the eternal feminine and the world soul. Rooted in Christian and Jewish mysticism, Eastern Orthodox iconography, Greek philosophy, and European romanticism, the Sophiology that suffuses Solovyov's philosophical and artistic works is both intellectually sophisticated and profoundly inspiring. Judith Deutsch Kornblatt brings together key texts from Solovyov's writings about Sophia: poetry, fiction, drama, and philosophy, all extensively annotated and some available in English for the first time (with assistance from the translators Boris Jakim and Laury Magnus)."--Amazon website.
Vladimir Solovyov's philosophical classic explores the nature of war and battle in human society, and the potential manifestations of the Antichrist foreseen in Christian texts. Taking the form of a dialogue between several participants, Solovyov explores a series of philosophical ideas. At times lively freeform conversation sparkling with wit and insight, at times making intensive use of the Socratic method of questioning, Solovyov's wide-ranging enquiries are intensely readable. Some of the conversationalists have little to no knowledge of philosophy; with this in mind, the book is made entertaining and plain-spoken, advancing deep ideas in a manner understandable. As one of Solovyov's final works prior to his death in 1900, the introduction represents the author's mature outlook, encompassing Western and Eastern religious and philosophic questions, plus a suspicion that East Asian nations were an imminent threat to Russia. This outlook proved somewhat accurate with the outbreak of war between Russia and Japan in 1904-1905, in which Japan emerged victorious. Questions include whether war is an inevitability given human nature, the geopolitics of the day, and how to recognize manifestations of good and evil in the world. Perhaps most distinctive however is the energetic and insightful concluding monologue on the Antichrist; incisive and stark in its portrayal, this tale offers a memorable finish.
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