Frictions: Europe, America and global Transformations - Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

Creator: Kellner, Joseph

Title: The Collapse of the Soviet Union and the Mormons

DOI: 10.15457/frictions/0022

Description:

Joseph Kellner (U Georgia) outlines his forthcoming book on The Spirit of Socialism, which looks at the emergence of spiritual subcultures around the time of the collapse of the USSR. Here he focuses on the Mormon (or Latter Day Saints) movement, revealing connections with communities around the world, in particular the USA. Why did certain movements, like the Hare Krishnas, succeed more than others in negotiating these turbulent times? What existing modes of spirituality and authority did they draw on and how did they build transnational connections as borders opened? He explores in particular the links that emerged between Soviet/post-Soviet Russia and the US, tracing how not all the Mormon utopian, spiritual and material ideals could translate from the US to turbulent Russian realities.

Date of publication: 2022-11-16

URL: https://frictions.europeamerica.de/research-notes-kellner-soviet-collapse-and-the-mormons/

Subjects: Russia, USSR, cultural translation, end of communism, hare krishnas, mormons, soviet union, spirituality, translation

Section: Research Notes

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