glasnostn.
/ˈɡlaznɒst/, /ˈɡlasnɒst/, U.S. /ˈɡlɑzˌnoʊst/, /ˈɡlɑzˌnɔst/, /ˈɡlɑzˌnɑst/ In relation to the affairs of the Soviet Union: a declared party policy since 1985 of greater openness and frankness in public statements, including the publication of news reflecting adversely on the government and political system; greater freedom of speech and information arising from this policy. In transferred use also applied to similar developments in other countries.The Russian word is recorded in dictionaries from the eighteenth century, but in the more general sense of ‘publicity’. It was used in the context of freedom of information in the Soviet State by V. I. Lenin, and called for in an open letter to the Soviet Writers' Union by Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn in 1969, but did not become a subject of serious public debate in the Soviet Union until an Izvestiya editorial requested letters on the subject on 19 January 1985. Its use by Mikhail Gorbachev on 11 March 1985 in a speech accepting the post of General Secretary of the CPSU has subsequently led to its being associated particularly with his policies.
ΘΚΠ
society > authority > lack of subjection > freedom or liberty > [noun] > civil liberty > specific policies of
Tanzimat1850
four freedoms1892
Truman Doctrine1947
glasnost1986
1972 Burg & Feifer Solzhenitsyn xxxii. 288 Solzhenitsyn [in an]..open letter to the Writers' Union dated November 12 [1969]..used the word glasnost, roughly ‘openness and candor in public affairs’, to evoke the rallying call of Russian liberals a century before.
1981 N.Y. Times 13 Mar. a7/1 The Russians, it seems, have rediscovered the value of Lenin's dictum that ‘glasnost’, the Russian word for openness or publicity, is a desirable form of conduct.
1985 Summary of World Broadcasts Pt. 1: U.S.S.R. (B.B.C.) 1 Apr. SU/7914/B/1 This [sc. popular consciousness of Party work] cannot be achieved without consistent observance of the principle of publicity (Russian: glasnost).]
1986 N.Y. Times 22 Feb. i. 2/1 Exposes of corruption, shortages and economic problems appear virtually daily in the [Soviet] press. It is a change that became evident after Mikhail S. Gorbachev came to office last March and called for more ‘glasnost’, or openness, in covering domestic affairs.
1986 Guardian 1 May 19/7 There are more than 50 million Soviet citizens in much more contaminated areas…If they are not told soon..it will no longer be a question of media policy of ‘Glasnost’.
1986 Scotsman 9 May 10/1 What seemed to be at risk was Mr. Gorbachev's ‘glasnost’ policy, the essence of which is more openness.
1986 Daily Tel. 10 Oct. 6/6 What about Mr Gorbachev's exciting campaign for greater ‘glasnost’, meaning frankness, in tackling defects in the Soviet system?
1987 Los Angeles Times 30 May i. 4/1 (heading) Life is still hard under glasnost, Vietnamese style.
1987 Jerusalem Post Mag. 19 June 6/5 On the emigration front,..the era of glasnost has seen decidedly mixed results.
Draft additions 1993
Hence (both somewhat rare). glasˈnostian adj. pertaining to or characterized by glasnost
ΘΚΠ
society > authority > lack of subjection > freedom or liberty > [adjective] > having civil liberty > relating to specific policies of
glasnostian1987
glasnostic1987
1987 Chicago Tribune 24 Sept. i. 27/2 Doves tend to interpret Soviet eagerness to have a treaty in terms of a glasnostian epiphany.
1990 Daily Tel. 29 May 17/4 In these glasnostian times, it is refreshing to hear of an intelligence service still sniffing out reds under the beds.
glasˈnostic n. and adj. (a) n. a supporter of glasnost; in quot. 19871 [jocularly, after agnostic n.] , one who is sceptical or remains uncommitted about glasnost; (b) adj. pertaining to or resulting from glasnost.
ΘΚΠ
society > authority > lack of subjection > freedom or liberty > [adjective] > having civil liberty > relating to specific policies of
glasnostian1987
glasnostic1987
society > authority > lack of subjection > freedom or liberty > [adjective] > having civil liberty > relating to specific policies of > attitudes towards
glasnostic1987
1987 B. Levin in Times 6 July 10/2 In judging the intentions..of Mr. Gorbachov, I shall believe that he is the avatar who has come to bring peace to the world and democracy to his country when, and only when, he embarks upon policies which admit of no other interpretation... In short, I am a glasnostic.
1987 N.Y. Times 29 Sept. c19/3 There she was in Thursday's audience and Friday's panels—a ‘Glasnostic’ apparition courtesy of her government.
1989 Christian Sci. Monitor 13 June 13/2 Seems some of you trogs..may..think that's not the worst idea you ever heard. Even the ‘glasnostics’ among us aren't sure.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1989; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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n.1986