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.

Introduction
Contexts and Comparisons Defining the Soviet Collapse Voices
The Soviet Collapse and Children's Play Questions and Controversies
The Roots of Argument Questions and Controversies
Was the Soviet Collapse Historically Unique? The Uses of History
Legacies
The Burdens of Russian and Soviet History Legacies of Old Russia Legacies of Revolution Questions and Controversies
Was the Soviet Union Doomed From the Start? Legacies of Stalinism Voices
Remembering Stalin à Favorably
Cracks in the Foundation
The Post-Stalin Years Facing Stalin's Legacy
The Dilemma of Reform Khrushchev and deStalinization Voices
A Child of the "Thaw" Turning Back the Clock? The Brezhnev Years Voices
Jokes of the Brezhnev Era From Growth to Stagnation
Explaining Economic Decline Beneath the Surface
Social Change in the Post-Stalin Years Cities and Universities Creating Alternative Space
The Erosion of Totalitarian Society Voices
Singing About the Soviet Elite Making Nations The "Flourishing of Nations" in the "Prison of Nations" "Inconspicuous Decolonization" and the "Soviet People" Questions and Controversies
What Held the Soviet Empire Together? The Soviet Union and the World Questions and Controversies
Can Coincidence Explain the Soviet Collapse?
Reviving Soviet Socialism
The Gorbachev Experiment Questions and Controversies
Debating the Gorbachev Factor Changing of the Guard Voices
Soviet History in a Single Joke Acceleration
"The Key to All Our Problems" "More Light"
The Glasnost Phenomenon Voices
Experiencing Glasnost "What Have We Done?" Democratization and Political Reform Toward the Market? Perestroika and the Soviet Economy Voices
Defending Cooperatives Questions and Controversies
What Went Wrong With Reform? "A Consensus of All Mankind"
New Thinking in Soviet Foreign Policy Questions and Controversies
Did the Western Pressures Push the Soviet Union Over the Brink?
Unexpected Consequences
Economic Crisis and Social Awakening Nothing to Buy
The Unraveling of the Soviet Economy Voices
Economic Crisis and Soviet Humor Democratic Awakenings
Anti-Communism in the Communist Heartland Labor Awakenings
Working Class Protest in the Workers' State Voices
The Miners Speak National Awakenings
The Empire Strikes Back Baltic Awakenings Ukrainian Awakenings Voices
Ukrainians
Not Little Russians Caucasian Awakenings Central Asian Awakenings Russian Awakenings Voices
Russian Nationalism from Below Questions and Controversies
Who Acts in History
Great Men, Elites, or the Masses?
Passing Into History
The Final Act in the Soviet Drama Pressures from the Periphery
Responding to the Nationalist Challenge Pressures from the Left
Responding to the Democratic Challenge Pressures from the Right
Responding to the Conservative Challenge Voices
Inviting a Coup
"A Word to the People" Three Days in August Voices
On the Barricades Coming Apart
The Final Days of the Soviet Union Questions and Controversies
Why a Peaceful Death? Questions and Controversies
Meaning and History
Table of Contents provided by Ingram. All Rights Reserved.

What is included with this book?

The New copy of this book will include any supplemental materials advertised. Please check the title of the book to determine if it should include any access cards, study guides, lab manuals, CDs, etc.

The Used, Rental and eBook copies of this book are not guaranteed to include any supplemental materials. Typically, only the book itself is included. This is true even if the title states it includes any access cards, study guides, lab manuals, CDs, etc.