A Letter From The Publisher, Jun. 23, 1980

On rare occasions TIME devotes a special issue to a subject it feels is of major importance: the American Woman (1972) and the South (1976) are examples from the past decade. Last summer the magazine's editors decided that the Soviet Union should be the focus for such a single-topic edition. Because of its inherently secretive nature and historical suspicion of the West, the U.S.S.R. has long been a nation much talked about but little understood. Following the invasion of Afghanistan, the Olympic boycott and the ensuing collapse of U.S.-Soviet relations, a new cold...

Want the full story?

Subscribe Now

Subscribe
Subscribe

Learn more about the benefits of being a TIME subscriber

If you are already a subscriber sign up — registration is free!