ABSTRACT

The Soviet Union began the decade in a state of political paralysis and economic stagnation, both of which posed an unmistakable threat to the basic foundations of the Soviet system. It ends the decade in the midst of a revolution beyond wildest dreams, and certainly well beyond the hopes of virtually all Soviet citizens, whether they be Russian, Estonian, or Uzbek. Developments which appear on first glance to be "retreats" from economic reforms—such as statements proclaiming a continued commitment to socialism and an opposition to private property—may ultimately prove to be critical to their successes by providing a smoke-screen for radical change. One of the most commonly-voiced criticisms of Soviet economic reforms is the inability or unwillingness of the leadership to articulate the nature of the new system they wish to create. Soviet reforms to date have a mixed record on addressing the complexities of decentralization.