Abstract

This is a book about politics, culture, and political culture from a philosophical perspective. Its title translates as Dissidence, conflict and propaganda: Papers in philosophy. It includes 13 articles, written over the last eight years. Most are revised versions of previously published papers, but four articles (chapters 2, 3, 5, and 13) are printed here for the first time. As well, the book includes a series of photographs, which offer a perspective on changes in Russian society over two decades, from 1989 to 2009. The articles cover diverse topics and were written for differing purposes and occasions, but their common thread is a discussion of the reasons behind conflict and the consequences of conflict in several different social arenas. The book has three parts. The first discusses dissidence and acts of dissidence, and the author argues that dissidence is a necessary part of democracy. Conflicts between individuals and groups characterize modern society, and the second part of the book discusses this aspect of contem- porary culture. The book’s third part discusses direct and indirect propa- ganda in the context of culture, politics, science and education.