Revolution from above

Controversially this book argues that the ruling party-state elite in the USSR itself moved to dismantle the old system. Topics discussed include:

• the beginnings of economic decline in 1975

• Gorbachev's efforts to democratize and decentralize

• the complex political battle through which the coalition favouring capitalism took power

• the flaws in economic policies intended to rapidly build capitalism

• the surprising resurgence of Communism.
Research includes interviews with over 50 former Soviet government and Communist party leaders, policy advisors, new private businessmen, trade union leaders and intellectuals.

Revolution from Above gives a new interpretation of the disintegration of the USSR. It challenges the widespread belief that the demise of the old regime was caused by the collapse of the Soviet economy, accompanied by public demand that socialism should be abandoned. It argues that the ruling party-state elite of the USSR itself moved to dismantle the Soviet system.

Coverage encompasses the beginnings of the Soviet political system in 1917 to the move towards capitalism in the 1990s and the surprise resurgence of Communist support in 1995. Research includes interviews with over fifty people influential in the old and new regimes, giving unique information on the Soviet collapse. This book will be invaluable to students of the economy, politics and history of the former Soviet Union.