Why Did the Soviet Union Collapse?: Understanding Historical Change

by Robert W. Strayer

Taking the Soviet collapse - the most cataclysmic event of the recent past - as a case study, this text engages students in the exercise of historical analysis, interpretation and explanation. In exploring the question posed by the title, the author introduces and applies such organizing concepts as great power conflict, imperial decline, revolution, ethnic conflict, colonialism, economic development, totalitarian ideology, and transition to democracy in a most accessible way. Questions and controversies, and extracts from documentary and literary sources, anchor the text at key points. This book is intended for use in history and political science courses on the Soviet Union or more generally on the 20th century.

Genres: History, Russia, Nonfiction, Politics

232 pages, Paperback

First published April 1, 1998

Reviews

[Ming · Rating 4 out of 5]

read this among others for Russian studies class... a good economic and political history of the soviet union

[Adam G · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this book to be a useful introduction to the high-level political changes that took place in the USSR over its lifetime. It strikes a good balance between three aims: to detail and contextualise what happened from Stalin to Yeltsin, to summarise various strains of academic analysis into the cause and effect of what happened, and to give the Russian people a voice through direct quotation of primary sources.

In tone the writing is quite equivocal, with several sections being labelled as 'Questions and controversies'. This approach keeps the book fairly objective and avoiding too much moralising, however it does lead the overall work into some contradictions with no satisfying conclusion.

Finally a criticism. The first chapter of the book mentions two ways of analysing the collapse, either as due to a 'fatal flaw' of the system, or as an inevitability in general path the country took to 'modernisation'. On finishing the book, I realised it had barely mentioned the international position of the country and how external factors came to bear, such as the argument that the high defence budget of the USSR was a necessary defensive measure against NATO. I came across an essay titled '1989' by Matthias Middell (The Oxford Handbook of the History of Communism pub. 2014) which brings in this perspective a little more. This reflects the period when Strayer wrote the book (pub. 1999). Cold War era anticommunism was a vivid memory and liberal triumphalism was on the front pages of magazines (eg. The End of History and the Last Man pub. 1992). The full ramifications of the New World Order were yet to be acknowledged by the academy. (My marker would be, say, the Seattle 1999 anti-WTO protests which really exposed popular opposition to globalisation in the US.)

So, all in all, it's a good introduction that needs to be read with a critical eye.

[NCHS Library]

From the Publisher
Taking the Soviet collapse - the most cataclysmic event of the recent past - as a case study, this text engages students in the exercise of historical analysis, interpretation and explanation. In exploring the question posed by the title, the author introduces and applies such organizing concepts as great power conflict, imperial decline, revolution, ethnic conflict, colonialism, economic development, totalitarian ideology, and transition to democracy in a most accessible way. Questions and controversies, and extracts from documentary and literary sources, anchor the text at key points. This book is intended for use in history and political science courses on the Soviet Union or more generally on the 20th century.

[Lucy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Experienced epiphanies while reading this book, way back when I was in high school studying for A-levels' History. Should be read by students interested in Russian studies, the Cold War, Revolution, or history lovers in general, because this book will improve your understanding of historical forces and human nature.
This is the book that marked my deep involvement with History! :)

[Sahar · Rating 3 out of 5]

One of my favourites ! I read it 4 years ago, yea when i was 14 so i advice you to read it now. not too late I guess !