The Destruction of the Soviet Union

Is there a link between the collapse of the Soviet Union, the radical reforms in China and Vietnam, and the current crisis in East Asia? David Lockwood argues that the common factor in each is the crisis of state-controlled economies, besieged by the developing forces of globalization. This book examines the collapse of the Soviet Union not as the 'end of history', or the beginning of a 'new world order', but as an illustration of processes that are taking place the world over. The author concludes that it was globalization that brought down the communist system. Globalization continues to threaten state-controlled economies - from the remaining 'socialist' state to the NICs of East Asia.

Autorentext

David Lockwood is Associate Professor and Head of History at Flinders University, Adelaide, Australia and the author of books on the Soviet Union and Modern Indian History.

Inhalt
Introduction Historical Materialism and the State Globalization The Soviet State and its Rulers Globalization of the Soviet State The Problem of Reform The Gorbachev Restructuring The Collapse China and Vietnam State-Controlled Economies: South Korea and Indonesia Conclusion Endnotes References Bibliography Index