The Russian Moment in World History
In this short, muscular essay, Poe covers Russian history in its widest parameters, assessing various theses about the subject and offering his own. This is an interesting exercise for Russophiles since the historical controversies are enduring and, with regard to the Communist period, very polarized. Right off, Poe rejects the idea that Russians over the centuries have had a predisposition to authoritarianism, expansionism, or messianism--all categories of analysis one can find in the historiography both by Russians and Westerners. But surprisingly, Poe proceeds to interpret Russian history in terms that Russian leaders themselves have used to justify autocracy and territorial expansion: namely, the preservation of independence against European invaders. Since Russia achieved this goal, Poe views the features of Russia that are negative to many historians--its people's comparative poverty and abjectness before the power of the state--as a consequence of geography rather than inherent to Russian history. Students will find Poe an able provocateur of debate.Gilbert TaylorCopyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved