Russia: The Scholar as Pawn

In part, Soviet accusations of alleged American espionage have been motivated by the Kremlin's desire to divert domestic discontent against foreign scapegoats. By arousing fear of foreign "spies," the Kremlin has sought to break down the attraction of Western culture for the Soviet people.

So wrote Professor Frederick C. Barghoorn in The Soviet Image of the United States more than a decade ago. The words proved prophetic last week when the Russians announced that Barghoorn, 52, longtime chairman of Yale's Russian studies program, was under arrest for "espionage." Then, as suddenly as it began, Moscow called off its seemingly pointless...

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