The Soviet Union

Few moments in Soviet history seemed as open to change as the years of glasnost and perestroika. This study covers the whole Soviet period from 1917 to 1991, concentrating on parts of political and economic life that have received less scrutiny. Its aim is twofold: to lay out a realistic range of paths the Soviet state could have taken, and to judge which of them the system was likely to adopt.

The author takes up several pointed questions. Should openness be expanded so that ordinary citizens help solve major national problems? Do Soviet military costs stop at the obvious budget lines, or does the military shape the entire economy? Why was corruption among officials so widespread, and could market institutions be brought into the economy, and if so, by what route? Instead of framing the matter as authoritarianism against democracy, he weighs several dimensions at once, including pluralism, the separation of powers, and the involvement of capable, accountable people in decisions. This wider lens clarifies the constraints of the moment and suggests new policy options.

Although the focus is the Soviet Union, the methods apply elsewhere. His treatment of inflation, and of why it appears in planned economies as well as market ones, bears on many developing countries. The book will appeal to readers seeking a fresh view of Soviet events, and to scholars of international relations, political science and economics.