Russia's Path From Gorbachev to Putin : The Demise of the Soviet System and the New Russia

Russia’s Path from Gorbachev to Putin КНИГИ ; ИСТОРИЯ Автор: David M. Kotz and Fred Weir Название: Russia’s Path from Gorbachev to Putin Издательство: Routedge Год: 2007 Формат: pdf Размер: 2,5 Mb Язык: АнглийскийDavid M. Kotz is Professor of Economics and Research Associate at the Political Economy Research Institute at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, USA.Fred Weir is Moscow correspondent for the Boston-basedChristian Science Monitor.The current work adds an examination of the significant social, economic, and political developments in post-Soviet Russia since 1996. These developments include the rise of a small group of super-rich and powerful “oligarchs,” the continuing prevalence of crime and corruption, the severe problems of Russia’s economy over the past decade, and the steady drift toward authoritarian government. While these developments have been described in the mass media and in many books, our aim is to interpret and explain the underlying reasons for them. uploading 85 This Book Is A Revised And Updated Version Of Revolution From Above: The Demise Of The Soviet System, Published By Routledge In 1997. Russia's Path From Gorbachev To Putin Carries The Analysis Of Post-soviet Russia Up To The Present And Also Makes Revisions In The Original Chapters. David M. Kotz And Fred Weir Challenge The Widespread Belief That Economic Collapse, Together With A Rejection Of Socialism By The Soviet Public, Led To The Soviet Demise. The Authors Interviewed More Than Fifty Former Soviet Government And Communist Party Leaders, Policy Advisors, Post-soviet Russian Political Figures, Businessmen, And Intellectuals.--jacket. Part I: The Soviet System: Socialism And The Soviet System -- Growth, Stagnation, And The Origins Of Perestroika. Part Ii: Perestroika And The Demise Of The Soviet System: Glasnost And The Intelligentsia -- Economic Reform -- Democratization -- The Party-state Elite And The Pro-capitalist Coalition -- The Struggle For Power. Part Iii: Immediate Aftermath Of The Soviet Demise: Shock Therapy -- The Results Of Shock Therapy -- Political Conflict. Part Iv: The New Russia: Privatization And The Rise Of The Oligarchs -- Depression, Financial Crisis, And Recovery -- From Yeltsin To Putin. Part V: The Soviet System And The Future Of Socialism: Lessons For The Future Of Socialism. David M. Kotz And Fred Weir. A Revised And Updated Version Of 'revolution From Above : The Demise Of The Soviet System', Routledge, 1997. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [302]-366) And Index. Over the past few years, many of the former Communist-rule countries of Central and Eastern Europe have taken a steady path toward becoming more or less normal capitalist countries - with Poland and Hungary cases in point.Russia, on the other hand, has experienced extreme difficulties in its attempted transition to capitalism and democracy. The pursuit of Western-endorsed policies of privatization, liberalization and fiscal austerity have brought Russia growing crime and corruption, a distorted economy and a trend toward authoritarian government.In their 1996 book - Revolution from Above - David Kotz and Fred Weir shed light on the underlying reasons for the 1991 demise of the Soviet Union and the severe economic and political problems of the immediate post-Soviet period in Russia.In this new book, the authors bring the story up-to-date, showing how continuing misguided policies have entrenched a group of super-rich oligarchs, in alliance with an all-powerful presidency, while further undermining Russia's economic potential. New topics include the origins of the oligarchs, the deep penetration of crime and corruption in Russian society, the financial crisis that almost destroyed the regime, the mixed blessing of an oil-dependent economy, the atrophy of democracy in the Yeltsin years, and the recentralization of political power in the Kremlin under President Putin. Book Cover......Page 1 Title......Page 4 Copyright......Page 5 Contents......Page 6 Figures......Page 8 Tables......Page 10 Preface......Page 11 Preface to Revolution from Above......Page 13 Acknowledgements......Page 16 A note on transliteration of Russian names......Page 17 1 Introduction......Page 20 Part I: The Soviet system......Page 30 2 Socialism and the Soviet system......Page 32 3 Growth, stagnation, and the origins of perestroika......Page 52 Part II: Perestroika and the demise of the Soviet system......Page 76 4 Glasnost and the intelligentsia......Page 80 5 Economic reform......Page 89 6 Democratization......Page 111 7 The party–state elite and the pro-capitalist coalition......Page 124 8 The struggle for power......Page 145 Part III: Immediate aftermath of the Soviet demise......Page 170 9 Shock therapy......Page 174 10 The results of shock therapy......Page 186 11 Political conflict......Page 212 Part IV: The new Russia......Page 230 12 Privatization and the rise of the oligarchs......Page 232 13 Depression, financial crisis, and recovery......Page 255 14 From Yeltsin to Putin......Page 278 Part V: The Soviet system and the future of socialism......Page 306 15 Lessons for the future of socialism......Page 308 Appendix......Page 319 Notes......Page 321 Bibliography......Page 374 Index......Page 386 Over the past few years, many of the former Communist-rule countries of Central and Eastern Europe have taken a steady path toward becoming more or less normal capitalist countries€- with Poland and Hungary cases in point. Russia, on the other hand, has experienced extreme difficulties in its attempted transition to capitalism and democracy. The pursuit of Western-endorsed policies of privatization, liberalization and fiscal austerity have brought Russia growing crime and corruption, a distorted economy and a trend toward authoritarian government. In their 1996 book for Routledge€- R