Since 1930 I had seen little evidence that the USSR was progressing toward anything that one could truly call Socialism. On the contrary, I was struck by clear signs of its transformation into a hierarchical society, in which the rulers have no more reason to give up their power than any other ruling class.

George Orwell (1903-1950) English writer [pseud. of Eric Arthur Blair]

Animal Farm, Preface [Ukrainian ed.] (Mar 1947)