Gorbachev and His Reforms, 1985-1990

Abstract

Richard Sakwa's study looks at the scope and significance of the reforms in the Soviet Union under the leadership of Mikhail Gorbachev since his election as General Secretary of the Communist Party in March 1985. Based on a range of readings from Soviet and Western sources, this book deals with a number of aspects of reform in the USSR under Gorbachev's leadership, spanning question of leadership, politics and ideological changes, the perestroika of the economy and the new thinking in foreign policy. This analysis is set in its theoretical and historical context with a discussion of the concept of reform in Communist political systems. A major theme of the book is its attempt to understand the nature of the new democracy being born in the USSR. At the same time, the achievements and ambiguities of the new thinking are examined against the background of current debates in the Soviet Union. Throughout the book, the author acknowledges Gorbachev's personal role in the reforming process and analyzes his ideas and style of leadership.

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