RUS 100 Lecture Notes - Lecture 3: Glasnost, Spasm, Gulag
Document Summary
Governing body was an assembly composed of heads of households including widowed women and presided over by a starosta (elder) Equality for members was considered more important than personal freedom. Agricultural communes seen by russian intellectuals as necessary to protect peasants from harsh competition of western individualism. Feared individual rights would enable the strong to prosper but cause the weak to suffer. Peasants couldn"t leave the mir without an internal passport issued only with permission of the household head. Social philosophy that advocates the removal of inequities among persons and a more equal distribution of benefits. The interests of distribution and egalitarianism always predominated over those of production and creativity in the minds and emotions of the. Americans are raised on the success ethic. Success ethic is alien to many russians. They believe it"s morally wrong to get ahead, particularly at the expense of others. Belief that material conditions in society should not vary too greatly among individuals and classes.