Soviet and Russian Press Coverage of the United States: Press, Politics and Identity in Transition

by Jonathan A. Becker

Overview

This book examines changing Soviet and Russian press coverage of the United States from the emergence of Mikhail Gorbachev through the Presidency of Vladimir Putin. A new Afterword focuses on recent developments in the Russian media and Russian press coverage of the terrorist attacks of 11 September 2001. Becker argues that due to the absence of a language to support the reform strategy, the Soviet press presented positive images of its chief ideological and military opponent, the United States, as a means of supporting political, social and economic reform. He suggests that the end of the Cold War and the emergence of a more self-confident Russia means that the symbolic and discursive significance of the United States for Russia has diminished.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780333643143
Publisher:	Palgrave Macmillan UK
Publication date:	03/29/1999
Series:	St Antony's Series
Edition description:	1999
Pages:	233
Product dimensions:	5.51(w) x 8.50(h) x (d)

About the Author

Jonathan A. Becker is the Dean of Students and Professor of Political Science at Bard College.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgements 
 Introduction 1
Pt. I Politics and the Press 9
 1.  Press Systems 11
 2.  Soviet Communications Policy 18
 3.  Glasnost' vs. Freedom of the Press 37
Pt. II Soviet and Russian Images of the United States 65
 4.  'Otherness', Enmity and Envy in Soviet Images of the United States 67
 5.  US/Soviet Relations in the Gorbachev Period 72
 6.  Changing Images of American Military and Foreign Policy 87
 7.  Images of Domestic America 110
 8.  Afterword: The Russian Press under Putin    p. 167
 Notes p. 197
 Index p. 267

Editorial Reviews

'Throughout this work, Becker demonstrates an exceptional understanding of Soviet reality and how it has modelled the post Cold War Russian press system. Becker's well organized, thorough analysis, combined with a strong narrative style, offers readers a sophisticated, yet easy-to-follow text appropriate for advanced undergraduates, graduate students and professors...a must-read text for anyone wishing to make sense of the contemporary Russian press.' - Robyn S. Goodman, Journalism & Mass Communication Quarterly

'The book is clearly written, contains a wealth of materials and in view of the misunderstandings that continue to bedevil American-Russian relations, is timely.' - Frank Ellis, Slavonic and East European Review

'A rare combination of 'external' observation of Russian politics with 'internal' understanding of cultural code that allows him to provide readers with both objective and empathetic analysis of the recent ideological transformations in Russia...This stimulating book is an important contribution to the realistic assessment of where Russia is on its way to democracy.' - Nikolai Koposov, Dean, Smolny College, St Petersburg, Russia

'Becker manages to order a tremendous amount of material into a concise yet informative study...(that is) particularly valuable for scholars. Becker's monograph is also accessible to a wide audience: his care in translating quotations means the book can be fully appreciated by almost any reader, making the book a solid investigation into a recent and critical period in Soviet and Russian history.' - David J. Galloway, Slavonic and East European Journal

From the Publisher

Soviet and Russian Press Coverage of the United States is a must-read text for anyone wishing to make sense of the contemporary Russian press.
—Journalism and Mass Communications Quarterly, Winter 1999

Robyn S. Goodman

The book is clearly written, contains a wealth of materials and is timely.
—Slavonic and East European Review, Fall 2000

Frank Ellis

Examines changing Soviet and Russian press coverage of the U.S. from the emergence of Gorbachev through Yeltsin's re-election in 1996. Becker (dean of students, Bard College) argues that, owing to the absence of a language to support the reform strategy, the Soviet press presented positive images of its chief ideological and military opponent, the U.S., as a means of supporting political, social and economic reform. He suggests that the end of the Cold War and the emergence of a more self-confident Russia means that the symbolic and discursive significance of the U.S. for Russia has diminished. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

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