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An authoritative account of the Soviet Unionfrom its conception to its demise.
Contains features such as a chronology, biographies, chapter openers and boxed studies that will highlight and explain key information
McCauley worked in the Soviet Union for many years and met key figures such as Gorbachev – his personal accounts, anecdotes and photos give a unique perspective on the subject
'An expert in probing mafia-type relationships in present-day Russia, Martin McCauley here offers a vigorously written scrutiny of Soviet politics and society since the days of Lenin and Stalin.'
John Keep, Professor Emeritus, University of Toronto.
'An expert in probing mafia-type relationships in present-day Russia, Martin McCauley here offers a vigorously written scrutiny of Soviet politics and society since the days of Lenin and Stalin.'
John Keep, Professor Emeritus, University of Toronto.
The birth of the Soviet Union surprised many; its demise amazed the whole world. How did imperial Russia give way to the Soviet Union in 1917, and why did the USSR collapse so quickly in 1991?
Marxism promised paradise on earth, but the Communist Party never had true power, instead allowing Lenin and Stalin to become dictators who ruled in its name. The failure of the planned economy to live up to expectations led to a boom in the unplanned economy, in particular the black market. In turn, this led to the growth of organised crime and corruption within the government.
The Rise and Fall of the Soviet Union examines the strengths, weaknesses, and contradictions of the first Marxist state, and reassesses the role of power, authority and legitimacy in Soviet politics. Including first-person accounts, anecdotes, illustrations and diagrams to illustrate key concepts, McCauley provides a seminal history of this twentieth-century Superpower.
Martin McCauley is former Senior Lecturer in Politics at the School of Slavonicand East European Studies, University College, University of London. His previous publications include Stalin and Stalinism (2003), Bandits, Gangsters and the Mafia: Russia, the Baltic States and the CIS Since 1991 (2001) and Gorbachev (2000).
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
12 of 18 people found the following review helpful:
2.0 out of 5 stars
Breezy,
By
This review is from: The Soviet Union 1917-1991 (2nd Edition) (Longman History of Russia) (Paperback)
Obviously a small book covering the entire history of an empire that ruled hundreds of millions of people for decades cannot possibly be exhaustive, but some coherency of coverage could at least be expected. Although it makes some attempts at covering its subject, in my opinion it suffers from being poorly written, its almost lackadaisical style, and a failure to properly introduce and explain concepts. For example, the reader is bombarded in the first chapter by Bolsheviks and Mensheviks, Left and Right SRs, New Style, with hardly a clue as to their meaning and historical significance. Worse, analysis is lacking or flawed. Its perpetuation of the mischaracterization of the coup of October 1917 as a 'revolution' is indefensible in light of information that has long been available to Western historians. In addition, its poor typography and lack of overall structure make its reading an ordeal. All in all, I would suggest someone who is seeking a good overview and introduction to the history of the Soviet Union to look elsewhere.
5 of 10 people found the following review helpful:
1.0 out of 5 stars
Miserable,
By A Customer
This review is from: The Soviet Union 1917-1991 (2nd Edition) (Longman History of Russia) (Paperback)
A miserable, boring book by a miserable, boring, pompous old man. The doctor will probably recommend a little Where's Waldo to combat the adverse side effects of reading such a boring, hopeless, faulty book. In McCauley's own elite words, you would have to "kill every page" to save yourself from its terminal, dull, thudding nothingness.
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