Even more, later the socialist block allowed the western soft power in and it was one of main factors in the fall.
Exactly, and honestly, I’m willing to overlook a lot of his mistakes just for his seeing the real danger that western soft power poses. It really turns people into drones – maybe less so now, with Hollywood and the American culture machine starting to become more incompetent at what they do, but in the 1940s and 50s, the thing was omnipotent. Zhdanov was right, the only way to defend yourself was to keep the poison out. Other than that, yep, his record is pretty mixed and your criticisms are right on point.
Exactly, and honestly, I’m willing to overlook a lot of his mistakes just for his seeing the real danger that western soft power poses. It really turns people into drones – maybe less so now, with Hollywood and the American culture machine starting to become more incompetent at what they do, but in the 1940s and 50s, the thing was omnipotent. Zhdanov was right, the only way to defend yourself was to keep the poison out. Other than that, yep, his record is pretty mixed and your criticisms are right on point.