A. F. Dowlah, Abu Dowlah

Soviet Political Economy in Transition

From Lenin to Gorbachev

• Gebundenes Buch

Produktbeschreibung

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.

Produktdetails

• Verlag: Praeger
• Seitenzahl: 302
• Erscheinungstermin: 23. März 1992
• Englisch
• Abmessung: 240mm x 161mm x 21mm
• Gewicht: 621g
• ISBN-13: 9780313279447
• ISBN-10: 0313279446
• Artikelnr.: 25567109

Autorenporträt

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).

Inhaltsangabe

Introduction The Decentralized Strand of Socialist Economic Thought and
Practice The Centralized Strand of Socialist Economic Thought and Practice
The Immediate Background of Perestroika Gorbachev's Critique and Vision of
Soviet Socialism Perestroika's Economic and Political Reforms Crisis of
Transition: The Problematics of Perestroika Crisis of Transition: Factors
and Forces for and against Perestroika Index Conclusion References and
Further Readings