A History of the Soviet Union from the Beginning to the End - Hardcover

Kenez, Peter

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0521324262 ISBN 13: 9780521324267

Publisher: Cambridge University Press, 1999

Synopsis

Peter Kenez's History of the Soviet Union examines not only political change, but also social and cultural developments. The book identifies the social tensions and political inconsistencies that spurred radical change in the government of Russia, beginning at the turn of the century, culminating in the revolution of 1917. Kenez envisions that revolution as a crisis of authority that posed the question, 'Who shall govern Russia'? This question was resolved with the creation of the Soviet Union. Kenez traces the development of the Soviet Union from the Revolution, through the 1920s, the years of the New Economic Policies - which he sees as crucial to any interpretation of the history of the Soviet Union - and into the Stalinist order. He shows how post-Stalin Soviet leaders struggled to find ways to rule the country without using Stalin's methods but also without openly repudiating the past, and to negotiate a peaceful but antipathetic coexistence with the capitalist West.

About this title

Review

'A solid and conscientious scholar, Kenez's work has always inspired confidence and this book is no exception. It is lucid, amply documented, well organized and above all, the book is eminently sensible.' Abraham Brumberg, The Times Literary Supplement

Book Description

Peter Kenez's History of the Soviet Union examines not only political change but also social and cultural developments. Kenez traces the development of the Soviet Union from dynamic years of the Revolution to the complacency and corruption of the Mikhail Gorbachev years.

Edition details

• Publisher: Cambridge University Press
• Publication date: 1999
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0521324262
• ISBN 13: 9780521324267
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 328