Suny takes us back through history and telling us more about what it meant to be the Soviet Union. The various changes that took place culturally, politically and socially. The theme of life and the changes that take place is what has stood strong in the literature (Suny, 2002). The author has not just taken us through history by the different stages of revolutions that were experienced in the nation. Challenges that political leaders and citizens went through, and how they overcame them have also formed an integral part of Suny’s work. Compared to other literary works that generally talk about the history of Soviet Union, the book builds on different events and hence giving us a clear picture of what happened. The events have been summarized in documents highlighting what each season the state had to go through and how it imparted on the society.
Looking at how far the state came from. It may be quite difficult to understand that there were times when the views of individuals were not considered and people had to rely o their leaders to make and implement decisions (Suny, 2002). This was because of literacy levels, which were at their lowest point. There were only few people who were knowledgeable in state matters and were hence endowed with leadership responsibilities. Even though normal citizens were manipulated in the process, nobody was to be blamed for their ignorance. What was required is for them to be informed about issues that concern them. It is mainly because of this realization that people understood the essence of education. It was only knowledge that would empower them which became a basic requirement for the citizens. The government put measures to ensure that all citizens obtained basic education irrespective of their economic status.
Suny has also highlighted on the issues of gender and the how far the society has come in accepting and appreciating gender roles. Most of what was perceived was attitudes derived from traditional and cultural beliefs. It was discovered that when people are given a chance to perform, they would do an exceptional job. Even though gender roles were considered vital especially in developmental stages, they should not be used to manipulate a particular group and make them feel less in the society. Interest groups were formed to push for changes that were desired by the people. This was not an easy process and called for sacrifice especially for the leaders of such groups (Suny, 2002). It involved changing the minds of the most influential in the society who were reaping the benefits at the expense of the poor. The target was to bridge the gap that existed between the poor and the rich.
It was only a matter of time that those who were majorities yet considered insignificant mounted pressure on the government and facilitated the needed changes. It did not matter how long the process would take, all it mattered was the fact that a change has to be facilitated. Even though most of the people who pushed for changes did not live long to enjoy what they fought for, they planted a seed that is being enjoyed by the current generation. This serves as a lesson to those who dream of a better environment, it is never too late to facilitate the change. It may take long, they may not be there to reap the benefits, but vas long as they fight on, they will be remembered as history changes some day.
Suny R. (2002). The Structure of Soviet History: Essays and Documents. London: Oxford
University Press.
