Soviet politics in perspective

Richard Sakwa

Routledge Chapman & Hall, 1998 - History - 355 pages

Soviet Politics in Perspective is a new edition of Richard Sakwas successful textbook Soviet Politics: an introduction. Thoroughly revised and updated it builds on the previous editions comprehensive and accessible exploration of the Soviet system, from its rise in 1919 to its collapse in 1991.

The book is divided into five parts, which focus on key aspects of Soviet politics. They are:

* historical perspectives, beginning with the Tsarist regime on the eve of Revolution, the rise and development of Stalinism, through to the decline of the regime under Brezhnev and his successors and Gorbachev's attempts to revive the system

* institutions of Government, such as the Communist Party, security apparatus, the military, the justice system, local government and participation

* theoretical approaches to Soviet politics, including class and gender politics, the role of ideology and the shift from dissent to pluralism

* key policy areas: the command economy and reform; nationality politics; and foreign and defence policy

* an evaluation of Soviet rule, and reasons for its collapse.

Providing key texts and bibliographies, this book offers the complete history and politics of the Soviet period in a single volume. It will be indispensable to students of Soviet and post-Soviet politics as well as the interested general reader.

About the author

Richard Sakwa is Professor of Russian and European Politics at the University of Kent.

Bibliographic information

• Title: Soviet politics in perspective; Soviet Politics in Perspective, Richard Sakwa
• Author: Richard Sakwa
• Edition: 2, illustrated, revised
• Publisher: Routledge Chapman & Hall, 1998
• ISBN: 0415071534, 9780415071536
• Length: 355 pages
• Subjects: History / Europe / Russia & the Former Soviet Union; Political Science / History & Theory; Political Science / Reference