Synopses & Reviews
What are the political and economic ramifications of the disintegration of the Iron Curtain for the former Soviet Union's Eastern European allies? The End of the Outer Empire comprehensively examines the relationships between the Soviet Union and her neighbors, focusing particularly on the Gorbachev period (1985-1989), although including the Brezhnev regime when appropriate. This volume contains a great deal of new and interesting material; its analysis reflects both the increasing diversity of development as well as the remarkable change of pace in relations. The contributors do not attempt to articulate absolute verdicts or solutions on what remains a very fluid situation; rather, they seek to map the course of recent turmoil and convey some sense of the main trends of development. A fascinating collection of essays, The End of the Outer Empire explores the underside of the incredible changes now taking place in Eastern Europe. Professors and students of international relations, history, foreign policy, and Soviet and European studies will find this volume to be an essential addition to their classrooms as well as their libraries.
Synopsis
It is remarkably easy to take revolutionary changes for granted after the event. Yet, as this fascinating account shows, the disappearance of communist rule in Eastern Europe was the result of a conjunction of long-term decay and collapse from within with a fundamental shift in the second half of the 1980s in the policy of the Soviet Union.
This study sheds light on the dynamics of the decline of an empire, on the complex interaction of economic, political and security factors in both domestic and foreign policy in shaping revolutionary change. It suggests that the East European states have to contend with a burdensome domestic and foreign policy legacy far more intractable than many initially assumed as they redefine their