Overview

Situating Gorbachev and perestroika historically and ideologically, this book provides a comprehensive analysis of Soviet political economy in the context of socialist theory and seven decades of its application in the Soviet Union. A. F. Dowlah challenges the belief that socialism is sternly committed to centralized economic and political structures, and claims that socialism contains several theories, some more decentralized or democratic, others more authoritarian. Although the contemporary crisis in the socialist economies powerfully challenges the foundations of socialist theory and practice, Gorbachev, up until the coup attempt of August 1991, claimed that perestoika embodied more socialism, not less, and he was looking within the socialist tradition to solve contemporary Soviet problems. This work examines Gorbachev's claim and evaluates perestroika as a strategy of transition to a new variant of socialism. Based on thorough inquiry, textual evidence, and historical facts, the study concludes that Gorbachev's claims are substantially legitimate, and that a democratic version of socialism is possible within the Russian socialist tradition. It remains to be seen, however, in light of recent political and economic developments, whether this, or some more radical set of reforms, will emerge in Gorbachev's troubled economy.

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9780313279447

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Soviet Political Economy in Transition is a brilliant book that demonstrates alternative models/paradigms of socialism, and provides a penetrating scrutiny of seven-decade long Soviet experiment on socialism with superb analytical and interpretative skills. In this timely book, Dr. Dowlah combines his in-depth knowledge of Soviet economic and political theoretical expositions on socialist project, he helps us understand immense changes in the former Soviet Union from both empirical and ideological perspectives. This book should be equally accessible to academics and students, politcy-makers and practitioners. It is a welcome addition to the existing economic and political literature on the crises of transition in the formerly socialist economies. - Dr. A. T. R. Rahman Department of Technical Cooperation for Development United Nations _

Author Information

A. F. DOWLAH is an Assistant Professor of Economics and Political Science at the State University of New York, Canton. Formerly, he taught at the University of Southern California, California State University at Fullerton and at Los Angeles. He has authored a number of papers and a book entitled Perestroika: An Inquiry Into its Historical, Ideological, and Intellectual Roots (1990).

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