Drachkovitch explores the Soviet dissident movement, its trends, categories, heterogeneity, and history. He points to recent trials of dissidents in the Soviet Union indicating a pattern of behavior whose understanding is essential for evaluation of Soviet policies and intentions, domestically and internationally. The Soviet regime will not abandon its monopoly of political power and claim of ideological orthodoxy. He concludes with a discussion of the West in relation to Soviet dissidents.

Drachkovitch's biography includes: Senior fellow, 1961-93, and director of the library and archives (1978), Hoover Institution, Stanford University.