Left-Wing Dissidents  of the “Thaw” as the Soviet Version  of “the New Left”

Abstract. The article demonstrates the parallels between the left dissidents and the “new left” existed during the Thaw in the USSR and were the driving force behind the 1968 Revolution in capitalist countries. Despite the difference in the time of existence, the dissident left and the new left have much in common in the genesis and political strategy. Both movements have progressed from rebellion against the “old left”, through failures and frustration to embedding themselves in the political system in positions of moderate criticism of the system. The description of the left dissidents is based on examples from the political biography of Boris Vail, Valery Ronkin, their comrades and other representatives of the dissident left. The article traces the entire political biography of the thaw generation of left dissidents. The primary politicization of left dissidents took place during the period of study. A noticeable influence had the direction of education. The variants of ideologies of representatives of the “dissident left” are considered in detail. The life of left dissidents after arrest and the indictment is described in particular. The possible life strategies are determined after completing a criminal sentence. The conclusion deals with the participation of representatives of the dissident left in the period of Perestroika in the USSR.

Keywords: left-wing dissidents, the Thaw, USSR, underground political organizations, Marxism, socialism, the New Left.