Published in 1984, this comprehensive study offers a systematic re-examination of Soviet society from its inception up to the 1980s. Rather than relying on standard Western geopolitical narratives, Szymanski utilises comparative sociology to evaluate the actual living conditions, civil liberties, and social freedoms of Soviet citizens in contrast with citizens of the United States. 

Human Rights in the Soviet Union and the United States critically assesses the traditional Western definition of human rights, arguing that it prioritises formal political liberties over essential economic and social rights. Szymanski examines the Soviet Union’s achievements in areas such as guaranteed employment, universal healthcare, affordable housing, gender equality, and racial integration. While he does not ignore the realities of political repression and censorship that existed, he provides critical context by comparing these directly with the systemic inequalities, racial discrimination, and economic insecurity prevalent in the United States during the same era.

This work remains a vital, counter-hegemonic resource for historians, sociologists, and anyone interested in a nuanced, multidimensional analysis of the Soviet socialist experiment and ongoing global debates around human rights.