Pitirim Sorokin on the General and Specific in the Development of the USA and USSR: Integral Sociology and Projections Introduction: An External and Internal Perspective Pitirim Alexeyevich Sorokin (1889-1968) — Russian-American sociologist, founder of the sociology department at Harvard, analyzed the dynamics of the USA and USSR from a unique position: as a person deeply knowledgeable about Russian culture and history, and as a leading scholar of the American establishment. His key works on this topic include "Russia and the United States" (1944), "Social and Cultural Dynamics" (1937-1941), and several post-war articles. Sorokin applied his integral theory and concept of sociocultural types, going beyond the bipolar rhetoric of the Cold War. The Common in Development: Convergence at the Fundamental Level In the midst of ideological confrontation, Sorokin made a bold analytical move for his time: he pointed to the profound similarities between the two systems that predetermined possible convergence (approximation). Technological imperative: Both countries, regardless of ideology, were oriented towards scientific and technological progress, industrialization, and rational organization of production. Sorokin saw this as a manifestation of a common sensory (sensory) culture, dominant in the New Age, where material progress and comfort are the highest values. Secularization and the weakening of religious beginnings: In the USA, religion was formally preserved, but, according to Sorokin, also subject to secularization, becoming part of "social ritual". In the USSR, this process was brought to a logical conclusion in the form of state atheism. Both societies moved towards a secular model. Mass culture and standardization: Sorokin was one of the first to note similar trends in the creation of mass culture (Hollywood films and Soviet cinema, popular music), aimed at entertainment and the formation of certain behavioral standards. Megalomania and social engineering: ... Read more