25 must read books - V

The Last Empire - The final days of Soviet Union

March, 1985: Mikhail Sergeyevich Gorbachev is elected to the office of General Secretary, Communist Party Central Committee, Union of Soviet Socialist Republics.

In domestic policy Gorbachev introduces perestroika (literal meaning restructuring). This loosens party control over centralised economy. Market forces come into play. The old economic structure got dismantled before the new market driven structure could be put in place. Economic conditions worsened and living conditions became difficult. The Afghanistan war was a big drain on the economy.

He also introduces glasnost (openness). This loosens the leash on the  media and permits multi ideologies in country's politics. It angered the party apparatus by ending its control over the media permitting dissident criticism to surface in public after almost 7 decades.

He starts giving up the policy of political and military intervention in its satellite countries of Eastern Europe and elsewhere. 

Independence movements in Ukraine, Moldova and Caucasus gained momentum. 

A new crop of Soviet leaders such as recently elected Russian president, Boris Yeltsin, emerged on the scene. The old communist party leaders and even leadership of USA were not comfortable with the new breed.

On Christmas Day 1991 President George H.W.Bush of USS addressed the nation to declare an American victory in the Cold war.

What did really happen which finally led to disintegration of USSR? Was it the handiwork of US politics? Was the Afghan war responsible? Were perestroika and glasnost responsible?

Read this book to get a perspective.

The author, Serhii Plokhy, is a Professor of Ukranian History at Harvard University.


Namaste


Prabir