Conversation

Even at the height of the Cold War I don’t think “become like the Soviet Union” was ever either a popular or elite aspiration anywhere in the world 🤔 “Become like America” was usually the popular aspiration to the extent elites let American culture be visible, uncensored
10
46
Replying to
If we assume 60s-70s were "peak" of the Cold War, I think we underestimate how many post-colonial/developing country elites sought to be like USSR. Emulation ranged frm copying 5-year plans (India/Egypt), governance (Cuba/China/ et al) to genocidal reset of history (Khmer Rouge).
5
21
Replying to
I’d say cynically they wanted to do all that anyway and the USSR was a convenient arms dealer. And if you had to say “comrade” a bit it was worth it. 5-year plans if you think about it actually have roots in American Taylorism
Replying to
idealized versions of USSR is easier to imagine: equality/order/strength/class struggle etc. idealized versions of America is difficult to intuit: from supermarkets with food to capitalists bound by law etc. b/w planning & norm-emergence, post colonial societies bet on planning
1
2
Show replies