{"product_id":"the-rise-and-fall-of-the-soviet-union-longman-history-of-russia","title":"The Rise and Fall of the Soviet Union (Longman History Of Russia)","description":"\u003cp\u003eAn expert in probing mafia-type relationships in present-day Russia  Martin McCauley here offers a vigorously written scrutiny of Soviet politics and society since the days of Lenin and Stalin. John Keep  Professor Emeritus  University of Toronto. The birth of the Soviet Union surprised many; its demise amazed the whole world. How did imperial Russia give way to the Soviet Union in 1917  and why did the USSR collapse so quickly in 1991? Marxism promised paradise on earth  but the Communist Party never had true power  instead allowing Lenin and Stalin to become dictators who ruled in its name. The failure of the planned economy to live up to expectations led to a boom in the unplanned economy  in particular the black market. In turn  this led to the growth of organised crime and corruption within the government. The Rise and Fall of the Soviet Union examines the strengths  weaknesses  and contradictions of the first Marxist state  and reassesses the role of power  authority and legitimacy in Soviet politics. Including first-person accounts  anecdotes  illustrations and diagrams to illustrate key concepts  McCauley provides a seminal history of twentieth-century Russia.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"My Store","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44963172679733,"sku":"ByrdShop_0582784654","price":54.96,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0627\/8139\/0901\/files\/9780582784659.jpg?v=1770408293","url":"https:\/\/atxbooks.com\/products\/the-rise-and-fall-of-the-soviet-union-longman-history-of-russia","provider":"ATX Books","version":"1.0","type":"link"}