The Soviet Propaganda Machine
This book is for the general reader, one relatively uninformed about the Soviet propaganda effort. It contains quite a mixture, as snatches of history, explanations of policy, descriptions of propaganda instruments (Pravda, etc.) and sketches of the personalities and careers of participants-political leaders, Comintern agents, propagandists and manipulators (from Karl Radek and Willy Münzenberg to Georgi Arbatov and Vladimir Posner), KGB agents in journalistic disguise, and a variety of American and other fellow travelers-follow each other in not-so-disciplined order. The author's points are generally on the mark, although some of them misfire, and he tends to give the Soviets too much credit for effectiveness.
Related
Polls show that most young Russians hold ambivalent or even positive views of their country's worst dictator. Such attitudes stem not from defects in the Russian character, but from a massive failure in education. The West can help, and must do so fast.
Critics decry Vladimir Putin for turning Russia into a one-party state. But polls suggest that Russians actually approve of his actions by sizable majorities, caring little for core Western principles such as democratic liberties and civil rights.
In the last several months, Ukraine has descended into chaos. A series of scandals linking President Leonid Kuchma to vote fraud, corruption, the disappearance of journalists, and the harassment of opposition politicians has rocked this struggling country. Meanwhile, Western criticism has only pushed Kuchma toward Moscow's more welcoming embrace. A careful response from Washington and Brussels can still stop Kiev's descent into tyranny -- but there's no time to lose.

Sign-up for free weekly updates from ForeignAffairs.com.