Reviews for Popular Opinion in Stalin's Russia: Terror, Propaganda and Dissent, 1934-1941

The average rating for Popular Opinion in Stalin's Russia: Terror, Propaganda and Dissent, 1934-1941 based on 2 reviews is 5 stars.

Review # 1 was written on 2014-07-18 00:00:00 Floyd Croft Extremely interesting take on what people in Stalinist Russia thought and how they reacted in their propaganda-saturated world. We often think about people who live under oppressive regimes as completely brainwashed or driven to silence by fear, but Davies shows that people continued to try to have their voices heard. The section about the cult of the leader is particularly intriguing. Davies shows both positive and negative reactions to the cult of Stalin and other leaders. She also touches upon other aspects of life in Soviet Russia, including women and family, labor policy, and religion. Davies reveals nuances that might not be obvious in a direct treatment of propaganda and shows us the flip side: its failures and success and how people adopted the lexicon of the times in order to soften or mask their dissent while still partaking in it. Another interesting element in this book is Davies' examples of when the propagandists used the public's complaints as a part of their campaigns or softened/adjusted their stance given people's reaction. An excellent supplementary reading to any study of Soviet propaganda or Soviet history and one that is unique in its approach.

Review # 2 was written on 2014-03-23 00:00:00 Laura Lorena Torel This is a riveting read. I am doing my history dissertation upon Soviet propaganda and this book has come in use more than once. When I first read it, I found myself reading continuously for hours without wanting to put it down. Definitely worth a read!