Political Pilgrims by Paul Hollander
I have just started reading this book by Paul Hollander [ the title is above ] and I find it truly fantastic. It concerns the history of Western intellectuals who go to the ‘utopian’ societies of Russia, China, and Cuba during two periods of 1930’s and 1960’s. It also explains the alienation that Western intellectuals experience within their own societies and why they are so quick to criticize it and seek out unknown locals in the hope of finding enlightenment. Truly a very interesting book for those who want to know more about the intellectual viewpoints of Communist proponents/sympathizers during the periods.
‘I have seen the future and it works’ - Lincoln Steffens after his return from Communist Russia in 1921