The aim of this dictionary is to provide an aid to the translation of Russian social science texts into English and a guide to the significance of words used in technical or special senses within this field for social scientists, historians, the business community, and government officials.
Since the original publication of this reference work in 1962, and especially over the past decade, the vocabulary of Soviet life has changed dramatically, reflecting the marked changes in Soviet society. The new material incorporated into this second edition—a result of a thorough scanning of the Soviet press and recent books in sociology, politics, economics, law, accounting, public administration, welfare, and education—addresses not only additional terminology but modification of meanings. R. E. F. Smith also takes into account the increasingly Western influence on Soviet vocabulary—from the advent of words such as “hippie” to the Western flavor of the language of planners and politicians.