New lies for old: the communist strategy of deception and disinformation. - book reviews

National Review, Sept 7, 1984 by Arnold Beichman

Well, I hope that these "cosmetic steps" do occur because they could well become the exemplification of Robert K. Merton's perception, expressed by the title of an essay by that eminent sociologist, of "the unanticipated consequences of purposive social action." The intention of Communist leadership in engaging in what in KGB slang is called maskirovka is to make possible world Communism. Will the East German people, however, seeing that the Wall has been razed, just stay where they are? Will the independentized trade unions not be tempted to behave like real trade unions, forgetting it's all an ideological jest?

Despite such worries as these, I'm afraid I have not done full justice to Golitsyn's book. It must be read carefully to see how his theories emerge from his personal experiences in the KGB. Much of what he says is unprovable, yet as the Italian saying goes, Si non e vero, e ben trovato.