The Russian Question at the End of the Twentieth Century

The title sounds like a socio-political analysis. Actually, it is a short history book. But upon closer inspection, it is more than that. Solzhenitsyn uses the medium of history to re-tell Russia's story in a way to call the Russian people back to their spiritual heritage and also to warn Americans of the dangers that their own democratic liberalism offers. Written primarily for Russians, this book is a call for all. The specific question is simple: "Shall our people [Russians] be or not be" (106)? Solzhenitsyn raises points out the obvious double standard: patriotism and nationalism are good only when it is not Russian. (He didn't live to see how blatant this Western hypocrisy would become in the Ossetian War). The main body of the book is a survey of the last five centuries of Russian history. Solzhenitsyn's basic premise is that whenever Russia became imperialistic and sought other territories, the Russian people suffered and the country would lose prestige. Solzhenitsyn's basic premise is correct, but it is not that simple. He is quick to point out the dangers of pan-Slavism, and perhaps he has a point, but I don't think he fully understood the threat of Islam. The Ottoman Empire, while at times the "Sick Man of Europe," being faithful to Surah 9.4-5, had to subjugate Russia's Christian brethren. While not all Russian military responses to the Ottoman Empire were warranted, the actions themselves were understandable. Lessons Learned from the Book Lesson 1: The West, primarily Austria and England, are treacherous and should never be trusted (though of course, some alliances may be necessary). The most sickening moment of the West was the Crimean War, where "Christian" France and England allied themselves with Turkey, keeping their Christian brothers in the Balkans enslaved simply so Russia would be weakened. Lesson 2: Multi-ethnic societies under one empire simply do not work. Lesson 3: Capitalism and communism are not opposed to each other at the root level.

The great Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn has just passed from the scene. And his death was mourned by Orthodox Christians as well as other lovers of the truth throughout the world. Of late, many have styled Solzhenitsyn as perhaps the greatest intellect of our time. And having read this wonderful and terribly important book, I am much inclinded to agree with them. As a previous reviewer mentioned, Solzhenitsyn suffered much in his life. Most modern readers will already understand that he was for a long time interred within the Soviet Gulag. And he was even exiled from the Russia he loved so much. But, in thinking of Solzhenitsyn and his magnificent work, I can't help but think of Bishop Fulton Sheen's commentary on Russia and the Russian spirit. Bishop Sheen averred that the Russian experience and Russian greatness had much to do with the concept of the suffering servant. And this spirit rings true throughout Solzhenistyn's amazing and insightful book. Solzhenitsyn's rendering of the very important, and sadly little known, history of Russia is the most balanced, sensible, and even somehow poetic I have ever read. Any person who would understand Russia and the Russians would serve themselves very well by reading this book. But, more importantly, the book stands as a very important statement relative to the overall human condition at the outset of the 21st century. I cannot recommend this book strongly enough. Read it. And be well informed and richly blessed in the process. God bless.

"The Russian Question." At first this seemed like this would be ultra boring. The small book began by slogging through Russian history of 500 years ago, mentioning names and places that were unfamiliar, heavy with footnotes. Then a pattern began emerging-the squandering of the nation's resources on foreign ventures "veering off into the interests of others" with no benefit the Russian people. I was unable to put it down. I read the whole thing in an evening. This could be titled The American Question-there's much we in the USA could learn from the experience of Russia. Much of what Solzhenitsyin says is not politically correct. He sees "how harmful it is for the dominant nation in a state to create a multiethnic empire. Whoa, boy! They'll take your Nobel prize back! Solzhenytsin predicts that, "Circumstances will arise therein [in the 21 st century] when all of Europe and the United States will be in dire need of Russia as an ally." "Today, looking at the growing stream of refugees bursting through all European borders, is difficult for the West not to see itself as something of a fortress-a secure one for the time being, but clearly one besieged. And in the future, the growing ecological crisis may alter the climatic zones-leading to shortages of fresh water and arable land in places where they were once plentiful. This, in turn, may give rise to new and menacing conflicts on the planet, wars for survival." Solzhenitsyn has incisive (negative) comments on attorneys, Western courts, the liberal press, Gorbachev, and the US State Department. I learned something about serfdom, something of Russian Bolshevism, and a lot about idiotic foreign policy and bad government.

Winner of the Nobel Prize for literature Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn was born in Russia in 1918. He has experienced World War II, labor camp, internal exile, and expulsion from the Soviet Union. He spent 18 years in seclusion in rural Vermont. In this book he explores Russian history in search for answers for Russia's decline. This book was born and distilled through Solzhenitsyn's many years of experience of struggle with the Communist state and exile... In the same time he is not someone who just have an ax to grind, but rather a thinker who attained understanding to the question "Why?" or at least someone who knows where to look for answers...Solzhenitsyn doesn't spare criticism to rulers of Russia starting with the biggest figure - Peter "the Great". He calls him "a man of mediocre if not savage mind" with appetite to the European grandeur, squandering national resources and wasting lives of Russian people. From Peter up until now it was "...three hundred year period ...of missed opportunities for internal development, and ruthless squander of national strength on the pursuit of external aims of no benefit to Russia: we troubled more about European "interests" than about our own people." "The Russian Question" is an honest and thought-provoking book, written by someone who criticizes, but really loves Russia and her people. It would be a great book to read as a counterbalance to academic books on the subject. This is a real gem that shouldn't be overlooked by anyone interested in Russian history, philosophy and politics.

I thought that this was a provocative book dealing with all the issues and dealing with all the possible view points. A great look through a Russians eyes. Top Book. 5 stars duely earnt. I look foward to the next book!