Would Trotsky Wear a Bluetooth?: Technological Utopianism under Socialism, 1917--1989 Book PDF, ePub eBook

Join our eBook service for unlimited books & audiobooks. Get a free 7 day subscription! ↓↓↓↓↓


Book Descriptions:

After visiting Russia in 1921, the journalist Lincoln Steffens famously declared, "I have seen the future, and it works." Steffens referred to the social experiment of technological utopianism he found in the Soviet Union, where subway cars and farm tractors would carry the worker and peasant -- figuratively and literally -- into the twentieth century. Believing that socialism and technology together created a brave new world, Boleslaw Bierut of Poland and Kim Il Sung of North Korea -- and other leaders -- joined Russia's Vladimir Lenin and Leon Trotsky in embracing big technology with a verve and conviction that rivaled the western world's.

Paul R. Josephson here explores these utopian visions of technology -- and their unanticipated human and environmental costs. He examines the role of technology in communist plans and policies and the interplay between ideology and technological development. He shows that while technology was a symbol of regime legitimacy and an engine of progress, the changes it spurred were not unequivocally positive. Instead of achieving a worker's paradise, socialist technologies exposed the proletariat to dangerous machinery and deadly pollution; rather than freeing women from exploitation in family and labor, they paradoxically created for them the dual -- and exhausting -- burdens of mother and worker. The future did not work.

The fall of the Soviet Union in 1991 marked the end of communism's self-proclaimed glorious quest to "reach and surpass" the West. Josephson's intriguing study of how technology both helped and hindered this effort asks new and important questions about the crucial issues inextricably linked with the development and diffusion of technology in any sociopolitical system.

Would Trotsky Wear a Bluetooth?: Technological Utopianism under Socialism, 1917--1989 by Paul R. Josephson

From reader reviews:

James Brecht:

Typically the book Would Trotsky Wear a Bluetooth?: Technological Utopianism under Socialism, 1917--1989 will bring that you the new experience of reading any book. The author style to describe the idea is very unique. When you try to find new book to study, this book very suited to you. The book Would Trotsky Wear a Bluetooth?: Technological Utopianism under Socialism, 1917--1989 is much recommended to you to learn. You can also get the e-book in the official web site, so you can more easily to read the book.

Travis Freeman:

The reason why? Because this Would Trotsky Wear a Bluetooth?: Technological Utopianism under Socialism, 1917--1989 is an unordinary book that the inside of the guide waiting for you to snap the item but latter it will jolt you with the secret it inside. Reading this book alongside it was fantastic author who else write the book in such incredible way makes the content interior easier to understand, entertaining method but still convey the meaning entirely. So , it is good for you for not hesitating having this ever again or you going to regret it. This phenomenal book will give you a lot of benefits than the other book get such as help improving your ability and your critical thinking technique. So , still want to delay having that book? If I had been you I will go to the reserve store hurriedly.

Heather Killen:

You are able to spend your free time to study this book this book. This Would Trotsky Wear a Bluetooth?: Technological Utopianism under Socialism, 1917--1989 is simple bringing you can read it in the playground, in the beach, train as well as soon. If you did not possess much space to bring the printed book, you can buy the actual e-book. It is make you quicker to read it. You can save often the book in your smart phone. And so there are a lot of benefits that you will get when one buys this book.

Francis Lopez:

Reading a publication make you to get more knowledge from the jawhorse. You can take knowledge and information from your book. Book is created or printed or illustrated from each source in which filled update of news. On this modern era like currently, many ways to get information are available for anyone. From media social similar to newspaper, magazines, science reserve, encyclopedia, reference book, story and comic. You can add your knowledge by that book. Are you hip to spend your spare time to open your book? Or just looking for the Would Trotsky Wear a Bluetooth?: Technological Utopianism under Socialism, 1917--1989 when you required it?