Russia's Long Twentieth Century: Voices, Memories, Contested Perspectives

Covering the sweep of Russian history from empire to Soviet Union to post-Soviet state, this new edition of Russia's Long Twentieth Century is an accessible textbook that encourages students to start a lively conversation with Russia’s storied past. Chronologically organized, the book moves beyond the traditional Cold War framework, situating Russian history within world history. It covers topics including state power, political ideology, economic change, and foreign policy, highlighting the perspectives of “ordinary” people and exploring the impacts of race, ethnicity, nationality, gender, and generation on historical experience. Taking an inquiry-based approach, the authors show how scholars diverge sharply in their understanding of key events, historical processes, and personalities. Each chapter contains a selection of primary sources and discussion questions, engaging with the voices and experiences of diverse Soviet citizens and familiarizing students with the techniques of source criticism. The second edition features expanded coverage of the non-Russian regions of the Russian empire and the Soviet Union, adding new sections on Ukraine in particular. To help students navigate the book, the new edition also includes a timeline of key events and people, and a glossary. With a variety of learning tools, maps, and images, this volume is an essential introduction to twentieth-century Russian history.