This is the first book to view Soviet ideology and public opinion from the perspective of Soviet mythology. The author puts forth the idea that mythology in Soviet life is one of the most important variables determining the path of Soviet history and examines how Soviet society adjusts to the important role of mythology in its life. In this connection, the author introduces the concept of a party ideology as it differs from public ideology. Original and provocative, "Soviet Public Opinion and Ideology" is an enlightening work for sociologists, political scientists, social psychologists, and experts on the Soviet Union.