For half a century the Soviet economy was inefficient but stable. In the late 1980s; to the surprise of nearly everyone; it suddenly collapsed. Why did this happen? And what role did Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev's economic reforms play in the country's dissolution? In this groundbreaking study; Chris Miller shows that Gorbachev and his allies tried to learn from the great success story of transitions from socialism to capitalism; Deng Xiaoping's China. Why; then; were efforts to revitalize Soviet socialism so much less successful than in China?Making use of never-before-studied documents from the Soviet politburo and other archives; Miller argues that the difference between the Soviet Union and China--and the ultimate cause of the Soviet collapse--was not economics but politics. The Soviet government was divided by bitter conflict; and Gorbachev; the ostensible Soviet autocrat; was unable to outmaneuver the interest groups that were threatened by his economic reforms. Miller's analysis settles long-standing debates about the politics and economics of perestroika; transforming our understanding of the causes of the Soviet Union's rapid demise.
#3008678 in Books Shearer Davis Bowman 2014-05-15Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 9.10 x 1.10 x 6.10l; .0 #File Name: 1469621363392 pagesAt the Precipice Americans North and South During the Secession Crisis Littlefield History of the Civil War Era
Review
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Getting "inside the heads" of the pre-Civil War castBy Alan F. SewellI wanted to second the first reviewer's opinion about this being a worthwhile book for pre-Civil War study. I just read it to research pre-Civil War events and thoroughly enjoyed it; despite the writing being a bit turgid in places.This really is a great book; primarily scholarly; but with enough humorous anecdotes about the personalities of the time to provide some laughs along the way. The author has managed to summarize many historical schools of thought about pre-Civil War days as well as to add some unique insights of his own.He is able to "get inside the heads" of what made pre-Civil War Southerners and Northerners "tick." He explains HOW they thought; making their actions more comprehensible to our generation.The author's matter-of-fact style is also to be appreciated. He explains the motivations of pre-Civil War leaders like Abraham Lincoln; Stephen Douglas; Jefferson Davis; James Buchanan; John Bell; John C. Breckinridge and many others without inserting his own opinions about their motivations. Understanding these lesser-known characters like John Bell and John Breckinridge is essential to understanding the Civil War as a whole. The stories of some of the colorful African-American personalities like Sojurner Truth; who grew up a slave in a DUTCH-speaking New York planation; were also intriguing. I enjoyed learning the details of all these people. The book has most definitely filled in some gaps in my understanding of the years leading up to the Civil War.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. A Must ReadBy Michael A. TurnerThe author has created an in depth study of a very convoluted topic and delivered it in a way that still requires the reader to slowly digest the subject. Like many civil war battles; the Secession Crisis was just as hard to understand sometimes; however Bowman does an excellent job it. I suggest; read this; then look at other publications on the Secession to further your understand of the subject.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. An Excellent Non-Anachronistic Account of America Leading up to the Civil WarBy WAL“At the Precipice†is almost unique in Civil War historiography – it provides as close to a contemporaneous view; i.e.; one that is minimally colored by hindsight; current moral judgments; and the various interpretive schools; of the nation leading up to the Civil War as we are likely to get more than 150 years on. This turns out to be a very enlightening; as well as refreshing; look into the critical issues surrounding Succession. I found two aspects particularly informative: First; it comes through loud and clear that slavery was at the root of Succession and the Civil War. Second; the book gives a description of the role of “honor†that is understandable to a 21st century audience; for which the concept of “honor†is essentially non-existent with respect to public figures. In fact; “honor†is essential to understanding the loathing of abolitionists in the South as well as the creation of the euphemistic concept of “states’ rightsâ€. By their casting moral aspersions on slaveholders; making owning slaves in effect dishonorable; Abolitionists forced slaveholders to create a “states’ rights†cover story; given that the overall unpopularity of slavery in the nation as well as the internal contradictions inherent in slave-containing social structures precluded defending slavery on a moral basis.Although not really narrative history; the book is written in a narrative fashion; with a thread developed and explored in each chapter. This removes it far away from a dry compilation of historical data; and adds greatly to its readability and appeal.
