Аннотация

In this original and timely assessment of cultural expressions of paranoia in contemporary Russia, Eliot Borenstein samples popular fiction, movies, television shows, public political pronouncements, internet discussions, blogs, and religious tracts to build a sense of the deep historical and cultural roots of konspirologiia that run through Russian life. Plots against Russia reveals through dramatic and exciting storytelling that conspiracy and melodrama are entirely equal-opportunity in modern Russia, manifesting themselves among both pro-Putin elites and his political opposition. As Borenstein shows, this paranoid fantasy until recently characterized only the marginal and the irrelevant. Now, through its embodiment in pop culture, the expressions of a conspiratorial worldview are seen everywhere. Plots against Russia is an important contribution to the fields of Russian literary and cultural studies from one of its preeminent voices.

"He offers close readings of how conspiracy manifests itself in Russian popular as well as political culture. In doing so, he pushes our understanding of how conspiracy has transcended the paranoid fringe and become widely accepted as credible."
(East-West Review)

"Borenstein (NYU) has written a fascinating book with self-awareness and humility, which only lends greater credibility to his arguments overall"
(Choice)

"Plots against Russia is excellent. Eliot Borenstein has written a playful, witty, and invariably elegant book that makes complex theoretical concepts easily digestible and gives necessary retellings of crazy fantasies that are simply hilarious."
(Mark Lipovetsky, Professor of German and Slavic Languages and Literatures, University of Colorado, Boulder)

"Plots against Russia, written with Eliot Borenstein's characteristic flair, leads readers through an astounding maze of plots, paranoia, and apocalypse that sheds light on the timely topic of 'conspirology' and its links to issues of national identity and popular culture."
(Michael Gorham, Professor of Russian Studies, University of Florida, and author of Speaking in Soviet Tongues)