Soviet worker : from Lenin to Andropov

This book is a collection of essays by experts on Soviet society, dealing with the situation of the Soviet worker in all its aspects. The current economic climate is examined, with special emphasis on such topics as wages and incomes policies and the role of the trade unions in Soviet society.

In studying the sociological implications, educational opportunities and their inequalities are discussed, and planning in relation to the worker, and his own social perceptions, are analysed. As well as the historical analysis of the social conditions and economic situation, the book also gives an impressionistic picture of the life of the Soviet worker, based on the observations of travellers to the USSR and the comments of journalists and foreign visitors drawn from their personal experience.

In short, the book covers the plight of the Soviet worker from Lenin to Andropov and illustrates that basically not much change has taken place during all those years. Andropov's recent disciplinary measures and his new labour regulations are more of the same and reflect the inability of a centralised one-party state to provide for the basic needs of its people. The Polish events and the Solidarity interlude have seemingly had some repercussions inside the bloc countries and this has been given thorough treatment in a new chapter.

The book will be of great value to students of the Soviet Union, and will appeal to all those who are interested in the everyday life of the worker in Russia today.