Another example of the vague dissatisfaction with the Soviet system is the kind of thing the people say about Stalin. Although few volunteered any information on this point, Malia did receive answers once he had asked the question They ranged all the way from real hate to simple unwillingness to discuss the subject, other than to praise Lenin. Almost no one expressed any warmth for Stalin.

Despite this dissatisfaction with aspects of the Soviet system, most of the Russian people--especially the non-intellectuals--are still very orthodox in their outlook. Malia did meet, however, more of the vaguely dissatisfied segment of the population the longer he stayed in the country.

The group favoring the Soviet system nevertheless dominated. These people were primarily concerned with the economic advantages of Russia. They felt that they, unlike the people in the West, are secure. They also liked the monolithic structure of the Soviet government. Power impresses them, and they felt the Russian government could act more decisively than Western rulers.

Even concerning the police aspects of the regime, the average person felt unperturbed, since he rarely came into contact with them. Everyone--even the intellectuals--felt there had been a definite change for the better since the death of Stalin and the sudden departure of Beria. The simple and naive admit that the system was "bad." They felt on the whole that the injustices committed were "accidental," according to Malia. The more intelligent also admitted the system was bad, but they blamed Stalin.

Probably the basic reason for this feeling of relative satisfaction on the part of the majority of the Russians was the economic security, not the constant barrage of propaganda. Unemployment is virtually unknown, according to Malia, although there is a considerable degree of under-employment. What little unemployment there is exists in the large cities.

But it is also in these big cities where it is easiest to buy consumer goods. Malia, for instance, lost his pair of nail clippers in Kiev, and there was not even a pair of scissors in the biggest department store in town. And in Leningrad, he bought the last pair of gloves in the biggest department store there. Both these items were available in abundance in Moscow. Similarly, it is only the five or six largest cities in Russia which have television.

Few of the people Malia met were very concerned with world communism. Their interest was limited to concern about another world war. Almost all felt that it was Russia which was following a peaceful policy, and not the United States. Some had reservations about the details of what their own government told them.

'Your Radio Lies'

Although Malia found that many people had listened to either the Voice of America or the BBC's foreign service, they were in general suspicious of them. Since they felt that the Voice greatly exaggerates the plight of the Russians--and this point they can check against their own experience--they tended to discount what it says about conditions outside of Russia as well. The simple and sophisticated people alike adopted the attitude that "Your radio lies, and so does ours." The BBC, while in this same general category, is more highly respected.

The level of education in the Soviet Union is high, according to Malia. Virtually every town has a so-called seven-year school, and at present plans are being made to make a ten-year school compulsory. The Russian child starts his formal education at the age of seven.

To get into one of the universities or professional schools (the institutes), the Russian student must go to a ten-year school, however. The level of training at this level is roughly comparable to that of the western European countries, Malia says. In other words, a student has completed his general education--including the study of one foreign language--by the time he graduates. If he decides to continue his studies, it is only in one specialized field.

Not all graduates of a ten-year school can continue their studies, however. In fact, it is increasingly difficult to get into either an institute or a university. Technically, a student with all A's (or 5's, in the Russian system) can gain admission. Nowadays, however, this is no longer enough for the bigger universities. Most of them have started accepting only those students who have received a special gold medal for their-preparatory work or those who do well on a special examination, called the "concours." For provincial universities and institutes, however, the A's are still enough.

A university student receives special consideration from the government. He usually gets free tuition and minimum living expenses. He is also exempted from military service.

The curriculum at this level of education is rigidly prescribed. While free to specialize in whatever field he desires, the student is very limited within that particular field. All must take a Marxist or Leninist course each year, although they are "bored with it," according to Malia.

'Shame and Dishonor'