In an era of great change that endedThe seventy-year history of the Soviet Union was a whole series of key figures that became the symbol of this time. Yuri Afanasyev - a Russian politician, scientist and public figure is one of them. He left this world on September 14, 2015. What is another reason to take a closer look at the personality of this outstanding person.
Biography Facts
Future Russian politician Yury AfanasyevHe was born on September 5, 1934 in the small Volga settlement of Main. Very little is known about the young years of the future "foreman of perestroika". But noteworthy is the fact that after graduating from high school, he went to the capital and entered the most prestigious university of the Soviet Union. After studying at the Faculty of History of Moscow State University, he was sent to distant Siberia for the construction of the Krasnoyarsk Hydroelectric Station.
On this shock construction site, Yuri Afanasyev spentabout nine years. His duties as a Komsomol functionary included the reception and home improvement of young people sent to construction sites from all regions of the USSR. In 1966, Yury Afanasyev, whose biography at the first stage was formed quite ordinary, returned to Moscow. Ahead of him waiting for big things.
Scientific work
After returning to the capital careerKomsomol worker went up. However, he decided to change the nomenklatura service in the party and Komsomol organs to scientific activity. In 1971, Yuri Afanasyev graduated from the graduate school of the Academy of Social Sciences under the Central Committee of the CPSU. After that, begins to conduct active scientific and administrative activities. He goes to France to study at the famous Sorbonne University twice. His publications are recognized in the scientific world, which ensures successful promotion on the career ladder at the Institute of General History of the USSR Academy of Sciences.
He becomes a doctor of historical sciences,professor, elected academician of the Academy of Natural Sciences. In 1983, Yuri Afanasyev became a member of the editorial board of the journal "Communist". Conducts active social work, speaks in the media.
Care in politics
In the second half of the eighties in public andThe political life of the Soviet Union is undergoing radical change. At the forefront of the political scene are new people, among whom was Yuri Afanasyev. His biography makes a turn with the whole country. Of course, this was not an accident. By a turning point in the history of the country, Yuri Afanasyev came an authoritative public figure, to whose opinion it was decided to listen. This reputation was due to his publications on acute social and historical topics. Afanasyev's articles in Novy Mir and Ogonyok received attention and often caused heated debates among the thinking part of Soviet society.
Not everyone agreed with the historian, but hisideas about the need for radical transformations in all spheres of social and economic life of Soviet society fell into prepared ground and sprouted. In 1989, Yury Afanasyev was elected people's deputy of the USSR. At the famous first congress, he takes part in the Inter-regional deputy group.
"Foreman of perestroika"
In the late eighties, Yuri Afanasyev, photowhich could often be seen on the front pages of periodicals, becomes one of those with whom public opinion connects the changes taking place in the country. Some of the journalists came up with a slightly ironic definition for them - “foremen of perestroika”. But Yuri Afanasyev himself preferred to distance himself from such a title. Subsequently, he repeatedly stressed that he was always critical of Mikhail Gorbachev and the direction in which the socio-political system of the Soviet Union was being reformed.
Но как бы то ни было, именно Юрий Афанасьев стал the author of the famous definition of "aggressively obedient majority", with whom he characterized the conservative part of the deputies of the first congress. This apt expression is firmly established in the modern political lexicon.
Last years
In the two thousand years, Yuri Afanasyev moved away fromactive political activity. By the results of the changes occurred in the country treated without enthusiasm. Often he spoke in the media criticizing the course of the modern political leadership of the country and expressed support for non-system opposition figures. But his statements did not cause a significant public outcry. The authority and influence of politics are a thing of the past.
However, it cannot be said that they have forgotten about him.This is evidenced by the number of people who came to the Sakharov Center at the civil memorial service on September 17, 2015. Yuriy Afanasyev was buried at the Ostashkov cemetery in the town of Mytishchi in the Moscow region.
