Masculinity, Violence and Power in Modern Russia - Men, Guns and Identity

This book explores the phenomenon of violence in Russian culture, showing how violence has been a legitimate articulation of masculinity in Russia, and how popular attitudes towards violence have differed from those in the west, with Russians often approving of violence and of macho, militaristic political leadership.

List of contents

Introduction: The problem of violence in culture 1. Men of Violence in Soviet Culture 2. The Beginning of the End: the Violence of Glasnost 3. The Killer Prose of Vladimir Sorokin 4. Alexei Balabanov: Murder and the Gaze 5. Women’s Works:Real and Unreal Men 6. The Goodfellas of Post-Soviet Russian TV 7. Conclusion

About the author

David Gillespie is Professor of Russian at the University of Bath, UK.

Summary

This book explores the phenomenon of violence in Russian culture, showing how violence has been a legitimate articulation of masculinity in Russia, and how popular attitudes towards violence have differed from those in the west, with Russians often approving of violence and of macho, militaristic political leadership.

Product details

• Authors: David Gillespie, David (University of Bath Gillespie, Gillespie David, Marina Aleksandrovna Korneeva
• Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd.
• Languages: English
• Product format: Hardback
• Release: 05.01.2026
• EAN: 9780415670647
• ISBN: 978-0-415-67064-7
• No. of pages: 256
• Series: Routledge Contemporary Russia and Eastern Europe Series; Routledge Contemporary Russia; Routledge Contemporary Russia and Eastern Europe Series; Routledge Contemporary Russia
• Subjects: Natural sciences, medicine, IT, technology > Geosciences > Geography; Social sciences, law, business > Sociology > Sociological theories; History, Cultural Studies, Eastern Europe, SOCIAL SCIENCE / Regional Studies, Humanities, Regional Studies, Regional / International studies, Gender studies, gender groups, SOCIAL SCIENCE / Cultural & Ethnic Studies / General