The last two decades of the Soviet Union saw a corrupt and rotting government and society implode on itself from within. The control that the Soviet government had used on their country for decades was finally falling apart with the cultural and political undertakings of “glasnost” which saw the final opening up and liberalization of Soviet society. […]
In the late 1950’s, after the death of Joseph Stalin, the USSR was in disarray, despite crackdowns and tightening of communist social standards, many saw Stalin’s death as an opportunity for rebellion and change. Among these were the Stilyagi, the Russian equivalent of America’s hippie movement. The Stilyagi dressed outlandishly, idolized the west and listened […]
Read moreWhen one pictures cultural rebels in the United States these days, we often think of artistic hipsters who steer away from mainstream standards in music, art, and media. In the 1960s, one might think of these people as the famed…
Read moreAfter Joseph Stalin died in in March 5, 1953, Nikita Khrushchev took power and gave a speech known as “The Secret Speech” on February 24, 1956 which practically denounced Stalin and all of his work. It cited grievances throughout Stalin’s reign and denounced any of his wrongdoings. This was shocking to the people of the world […]
