“Soviet Schooling: The Case of Joseph Brodsky.”
This article examines Joseph Brodsky’s critique of the Soviet education system, as articulated in Less Than One, situating his reflections within the broader history of Soviet schooling and its politically driven curricular changes. Brodsky argues that Soviet education functioned as ideological indoctrination, fostering subconscious resistance, which he frames in terms of Foucauldian power dynamics. Engaging with Michel Foucault’s theories of discipline and resistance, as well as Ernest Gellner’s Nations and Nationalism, this study explores the role of education in Soviet nation-building and the eventual apathy it engendered. The analysis highlights how the saturation of propaganda in Soviet schooling led to widespread disillusionment, reinforcing the lasting relevance of Brodsky’s critique.
