The Soviet Union in our time is in the throes of constant change. This applies not only to political developments but also to popular consciousness. There is a change in the mentality of the populace as doomsday visions continue to be broadcast, while poverty and destitution prevail. The idea of the nation's collapse is mentioned in the media almost every day, while 10% of the population, about 14 million people, live in abject conditions.

The present anthology focuses on various aspects and manifestations of consciousness, in particular of mass consciousness, in the Soviet Union and post-Soviet Russia, with a sideways glance at Lithuania.

Several of the authors have made use of archives inaccessible until recently and of newly discovered material which, thanks to their efforts, are placed in the public arena for scrutiny and debate.