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Zhirinovsky: Russian Fascism and the Making of a Dictator
A searing portrait of a culture in collapse and the making of a dictator, this is the first book on the origins, politics and threats of Russia's would-be dictator. The authors have bent their extraordinary knowledge of Russian politics and culture to an exploration of the life of Russia's dangerous and powerful Vladimir Zhirinovsky and his rise to absolute power.
- GenresNonfiction
288 pages, Hardcover
First published June 1, 1995
8 people want to read
About the author
Vladimir I. Solovyov
19 books1 follower Владимир Соловьев
«Три еврея»
«Не плачь обо мне…» (1982, Израиль); «Юрий Андропов: тайный ход в Кремль» (1983),
«Борьба в Кремле» (1986),
«Борис Ельцин: политические метаморфозы» (1991),
«Парадоксы русского фашизма» (1995) — первые издания в Америке по-английски, следом на многих языках, включая русский;
«Операция 'Мавзолей’» (1989);
«Призрак, кусающий себе локти» (1992),
«Похищение Данаи» и «Матрешка» (1997, 1998 — сначала в нью-йоркской и лос-анджелевской периодике, отдельными изданиями в Нью-Йорке и Москве),
«Варианты любви» (2000),
«Довлатов вверх ногами» (2001), «Семейные тайны» (2001)
и сериал в издательстве «Рипол классик»: «PostMortem. Запретная книга о Бродском» (2006),
«Как я умер. Субъективный травелог»
«Записки скорпиона. Роман с памятью» (2007).
«Три еврея»
«Не плачь обо мне…» (1982, Израиль); «Юрий Андропов: тайный ход в Кремль» (1983),
«Борьба в Кремле» (1986),
«Борис Ельцин: политические метаморфозы» (1991),
«Парадоксы русского фашизма» (1995) — первые издания в Америке по-английски, следом на многих языках, включая русский;
«Операция 'Мавзолей’» (1989);
«Призрак, кусающий себе локти» (1992),
«Похищение Данаи» и «Матрешка» (1997, 1998 — сначала в нью-йоркской и лос-анджелевской периодике, отдельными изданиями в Нью-Йорке и Москве),
«Варианты любви» (2000),
«Довлатов вверх ногами» (2001), «Семейные тайны» (2001)
и сериал в издательстве «Рипол классик»: «PostMortem. Запретная книга о Бродском» (2006),
«Как я умер. Субъективный травелог»
«Записки скорпиона. Роман с памятью» (2007).
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Displaying 1 of 1 review
January 9, 2026
I picked up this little number at the local library. Just wanted to have some context on the political figures in Russia specially after the Soviet Union was dissolved.
This book centers around the political developments after Boris Yeltsin won the first free presidential elections in 1991 and the lead up to the subsequent second election in 1996. Its main character is Vladimir Zhirinovsky, a polarizing man with delusions of grandeur. This book was published in 1996 and it was a way for the writers to voice their concerns over the growing influence of a madman that could rival Stalin if put in the position of president of Russia.
1991 was the first free presidential election in Russia after the fall of USSR. In his first attempt Zhririnovsky was running on a campaign stating that Russia needed a dictator. Odd but familiar slogan to the nation since Russia had never known any form of statehood except totalitarian or authoritarian empires in the last centuries. He did not expect to win but also did not envision coming in third with 6 million votes.
At first he was regarded as a jester and a buffoon and I can’t help but think about Trump’s 2014 campaign when Zhirinovsky’s political rallies and rhetoric are described. There are many adjectives used to mock and discredit him in this book but the most striking was “beyond politics”. His campaign slogans are about geopolitical doctrines and imperialist revanchism. His main strategic effort was to keep the press both domestic and foreign focused on him.
“And here’s the paradox: the odder Zhirinovsky is with his deliberate manners, scandalous capers, and loose tongue, the warmly and more seriously the audience of the people treated him, laughing all the while.”
This book is very interesting if read with the publishing date in mind. Zhirinovsky is never free from scandalous situations and hilarity. There’s a real sense of fear and danger. In the end Zhirinovsky was irrelevant in 1996 and ran many times over unsuccessfully.
Russia still managed to “vote” and install a dictator that was definitely KGB, so in the end the book was right just focused on the wrong person.
This book centers around the political developments after Boris Yeltsin won the first free presidential elections in 1991 and the lead up to the subsequent second election in 1996. Its main character is Vladimir Zhirinovsky, a polarizing man with delusions of grandeur. This book was published in 1996 and it was a way for the writers to voice their concerns over the growing influence of a madman that could rival Stalin if put in the position of president of Russia.
1991 was the first free presidential election in Russia after the fall of USSR. In his first attempt Zhririnovsky was running on a campaign stating that Russia needed a dictator. Odd but familiar slogan to the nation since Russia had never known any form of statehood except totalitarian or authoritarian empires in the last centuries. He did not expect to win but also did not envision coming in third with 6 million votes.
At first he was regarded as a jester and a buffoon and I can’t help but think about Trump’s 2014 campaign when Zhirinovsky’s political rallies and rhetoric are described. There are many adjectives used to mock and discredit him in this book but the most striking was “beyond politics”. His campaign slogans are about geopolitical doctrines and imperialist revanchism. His main strategic effort was to keep the press both domestic and foreign focused on him.
“And here’s the paradox: the odder Zhirinovsky is with his deliberate manners, scandalous capers, and loose tongue, the warmly and more seriously the audience of the people treated him, laughing all the while.”
This book is very interesting if read with the publishing date in mind. Zhirinovsky is never free from scandalous situations and hilarity. There’s a real sense of fear and danger. In the end Zhirinovsky was irrelevant in 1996 and ran many times over unsuccessfully.
Russia still managed to “vote” and install a dictator that was definitely KGB, so in the end the book was right just focused on the wrong person.
Displaying 1 of 1 review