Soviet Politics In The 1980s

by Helmut Sonnenfeldt

Overview

The Soviet Union, in the aftermath of the Brezhnev era, may well stand at a crossroads in its history. According to the authors of this volume, the Chernenko administration and the new generation of political leaders now on the threshold of power must steer through a difficult period in the USSR's international relations, especially where the U.S. is concerned, continuing to assert what they regard as the legitimate Soviet role as a world superpower while coping with an inflexible and aging political system, a stagnant economy, and growing social problems. The contributors provide a careful consideration of the choices confronting the USSR as this new era begins and analyze the paths its leaders may take as they grapple with the challenges of the 1980s.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781000312669
Publisher:	Taylor & Francis
Publication date:	07/11/2019
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	247
File size:	2 MB

About the Author

Helmut Sonnenfeldt

Table of Contents

Westview Replica Editions -- About the Book and Author -- Introduction -- The Andropov Accession -- Soviet Politics in the 1980s: Strains, Dissatisfactions, and Diversity -- Social Dynamics in the USSR -- Alcohol Abuse and Quality of Life in the USSR -- The Soviet Domestic Economy in the 1980s -- Prospects for Economic Reform in the Soviet Union -- Soviet Arms Buildup or US Arms Decline? Real Weapons Procurement Growth in the Soviet Union and the United States, 1950-1980 -- Impact and Implications of Soviet Defense Spending -- The Impact of the West on the Soviet Union -- Can the West Affect Soviet Thinking? -- Soviet Economic Relations with the West: US Options -- Advanced Technology: How Will the USSR Adjust? -- Soviet Foreign Policy: Interests, Motives, and Objectives -- The United States and the Soviet Strategic Challenge: Arguments on the Structure of Our Problem -- US Policy Opportunities -- US National Interests and the Soviet Union