ABSTRACT
This conclusion presents some closing thoughts on the key concepts discussed in the preceding chapters of this book. In the USSR and Russia, The book shows that the "new bourgeoisie" under both Gorbachev and Eltsin, played an insignificant role in the reform process. Its members also had little direct representation among the political elites. Divided over ideology, policy, and the strategy of reform, political collapse was inevitable. The book discusses Groups which did provide support for transformation was the "acquisition" and administrative classes. These groups, which had a latent-class interest in private property and a market economy, would capitalize on the changes brought in initially by Gorbachev. The elites under Gorbachev, The book points out that within-system reform could never have succeeded concurrently with political stability because the political elites were divided about the viability of the Soviet system. Study of the political elite under Eltsin arrives at the same conclusions.
