The Sickle and the Hammer: A Socialist History of the Soviet Union Episode 0 - Introduction
Jan 18, 2025
Discover a fresh perspective on Soviet history as the host critiques common Western narratives about the USSR. Explore the myth of Western rescue during WWII and challenge perceptions of Stalin's rule. Delve into the Cold War's complexities, including the Space Race and the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan. Unpack Gorbachev's reforms and their misunderstood implications for socialism. Finally, understand how lessons from the Soviet experience can inform contemporary leftist movements, all while emphasizing a nuanced approach to history.
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Conversion Through Primary Texts
- Daniel shifted from a skeptical student to a communist after reading Marx and Lenin closely.
- He argues understanding Soviet self-justifications is essential to fairly judge its achievements and failures.
Three Years In Moscow
- Daniel moved to Moscow after graduating and spent three years teaching and learning Russian.
- Those years deepened his engagement with Soviet history and language.
Primary Sources Reveal Motives
- Standard texts emphasized Soviet negatives but left core explanatory questions unanswered.
- Daniel sought Soviet primary sources to understand how the regime justified itself and lasted so long.
