Synopses & Reviews
This volume provides a historical introduction to the question of whether Russian state and society can be reformed successfully for Russia to become a full-fledged member of the European community of nations, or whether its attempts at modernization are destined to suffer cyclical failures. Examinations of past reform efforts going back to the early nineteenth century and moving forward through Gorbachev provide grounds for modest hope.
Review
"...a splendid introductory essay...overall the volume succeeds far better than one could expect under the untimely circumstances of its birth." East-West Education"...the papers published in this volume are fine examples of the thinking of American and Soviet scholars on a topic of enormous importance..." The Historian
Synopsis
This volume provides a comparative study of the problems and prospects of reform in modern Russian history. Drawn from contributions to a conference sponsored by the Kennan Institute for Advanced Russian Studies of the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, the book raises important methodological and historiographic questions regarding the content, scope, and significance of various reform efforts, ranging from the Great Reforms of Tsar Alexander II to attempts undertaken by Khrushchev and Gorbachev to salvage the Soviet system. One of the recurrent themes raised is whether these attempts to modernize the political and social system were a cyclical series of failures or demonstrate a pattern of progressive development. Reform in Modern Russian History favors the latter interpretation and provides an excellent background for all who want to understand the shape of modern Russian history, the significance of Gorbachev, and the roots of contemporary Russian politics.
Table of Contents
1. The problem of reform in Russian and Soviet history Theodore Taranovski; Part I. Traditions of Reform in Late Imperial Russia: 2. 'Revolution from Above' in Russia: reflections on Natan Eidel'man's last book and related matters Terence Emmons; 3. Russia falls back Russia catches up: three generations of Russian reformers Valentina G. Cherukha and Boris V. Anan'ich; 4. From reforms 'from above' to revolution 'from below' Larisa G. Zakharova; 5. Reforms and political culture in prerevolutionary Russia: Commentary Daniel Field; Part II. Autocracy and the Challenge of Constitutionalism: 6. The social problem in Russia 1906-1914: Stolypin's agrarian reform Avenir P. Korelin; 7. Agricultural reform and political change: the case of Stolypin David A. J. Macey; 8. United government and the crisis of autocracy 1905-1914 David M. McDonald; 9. Russia's parliament of public opinion: association assembly and the autocracy 1906-1914 Joseph Bradley; 10. The reforming tradition in Russian and Soviet history: Commentary Alfred J. Rieber; Part III. The Uncertain Interlude: 11. The evolution of Bolshevik cultural policies during the first years of Soviet power Peter Kenez; 12. Local power in the 1920s: police and administrative reform Neil B. Weissman; 13. The antibureaucratic campaigns of the 1920s Daniel T. Orlovsky; 14. The inconsistency of NEP: Commentary Ben Eklof; 15. Khrushchev and the crisis of the regime of the Marxian prince Carl A. Linden; 16. Khrushchev's reforms in the light of perestroika Vitalii S. Lel'chuk; 17. Perestroika: a revival of Khruschevian reform or a new idea of socialist state Giulietto Chiesa; 18. Khruschev and Gorbachev - similarity and difference: commentary Robert V. Daniels; 19. The reformer's dilemma - damned if it's reform, damned if it's revolution: Commentary William Taubman; Part V. The Past, the Present and the Future: 20. Perestroika and the role of representative institutions in contemporary Soviet politics Sergei B. Stankevich; 21. Glasnost in Russia and the USSR: the 1860s and the 1980s Iurii M. Baturin; 22. Reform and revolution: Commentary Blair Ruble; 23. The fifth Russian revolution: Commentary Robert C. Tucker; 24. The return to normalcy: commentary Theodore Taranovski.