The Soviet Tragedy: A History of Socialism in Russia

Description

A History of Socialism in Russia, 1917-1991 A history of socialism in Russia, 1917-1991. A survey narrative of the evolution of Sovietism over 74 years as the system moved from its origins to its end. A chronicle of the Soviet tragedy, but also a commentary on much of 20th century intellectual history and on the contemporary world's quest for the just society. "The Soviet Tragedy is an essential coda to the literature of Soviet studies...Insofar as [he] returns the power of ideology to its central place in Soviet history, Malia has made an enormous contribution. He has written the history of a utopian illusion and the tragic consequences it had for the people of the Soviet Union and the world." -- David Remnick, The New York Review of Books "In Martin Malia, the Soviet Union had one of its most acute observers. With this book, it may well have found the cornerstone of its history." -- Francois Furet, author of Interpreting the French Revolution "The Soviet Tragedy offers the most thorough scholarly analysis of the Communist phenomenon that we are likely to get for a long while to come...Malia states that his narrative is intended 'to substantiate the basic argument,' and this is certainly an argumentative book, which drives its thesis home with hammer blows. On this breathtaking journey, Malia is a witty and often brilliantly penetrating guide. He has much wisdom to impart." -- The Times Literary Supplement "This is history at the high level, well deployed factually, but particularly worthwhile in the philosophical and political context -- at once a view and an overview." -- The Washington Post Martin Malia did his undergraduate work at Yale and earned his Ph.D. at Harvard. He has spent most of his teaching career at the University of California at Berkeley. His principal works include Alexander Herzen and the Birth of Russian Socialism, 1812-1855, The Soviet Tragedy: A History of Socialism in Russia, 1917-1991, and Russia under Western Eyes: From the Bronze Horseman to the Lenin Mausoleum. Cover Title Page Copyright Page Dedication Contents Preface Introduction. The Historical Issues: A Time for Judgment Part I. The Origins 1. Why Socialism? 2. And Why in Russia First? Part II. The Experiment 3. The Road to October: 1917 4. A Regime Is Born: War Communism, 1918-1921 5. The Road Not Taken: NEP, 1921-1928 6. And They Built Socialism: 1929-1935 7. Purge and Consolidation: 1935-1939 Part III. The Empire 8. The Fortunes of War: 1939-1953 9. Reform Communism I: Khrushchev’s Moscow Spring, 1953-1964 10. And the Bill Came Due: Brezhnev and Nomenklatura Communism, 1964-1982 Part IV. The End 11. Reform Communism II: Gorbachev and Perestroika, 1982-1988 12. From Perestroika to Collapse: 1989-1991 13. The Perverse Logic of Utopia Epilogue. The Legacy Russia after Socialism Socialism after Sovietism Notes and Sources Acknowledgments Index