Book Review: Uwe Schütte (ed.): The Cambridge Companion to Krautrock

Condescendingly, Giles admits that while these ‘“idiots” can often be highly intelligent individuals . . . for one reason or another [they] simply do not understand the consequences of what they do or say’. This, he adds, can stem ‘from a lack of understanding of the real-world impact of their academic studies’ (p. 167). The effrontery, almost insolence, of these remarks is truly breath-taking and has no part in proper academic discourse. It amounts to little more than mud-slinging. By loosing off these vitriolic barbs, Giles’ philippic merely serves to reinforce Russian suspicions about the West’s hostile attitude and intentions, thereby unwittingly turning himself into the Kremlin’s ‘useful cretin’. (The author may rest assured that this description is not intended to be a ‘deliberate insult’ but used just in the interests of alliteration). As for his final prognosis concerning the future of Russo-Western relations, his prodigious investigations lead him to the startling conclusion that we can all expect more of the same. That is to say: Russia – whoever the country’s leader – will always remain antagonistic towards the West, and the West will continue to regard Russia as its potential or actual enemy. According to Giles, ’twas ever thus, and ever more shall be so.