G's responsibility on the collapse of the Soviet Union
Problems in the society that made reforming difficult
bureaucratic control of the economy
undemocratic political system
Analysis by Ernest Mandel
four possible outcomes for the Gorbachev project
radicalisation of leader members of the CPSU, leading to a "moscow spring" similar to developments in Czechoslovakia in 1968
inefficiency of production
conservative elements of the nomenklatura successfully stopping the democratisation and reform project
successful reform by "revolution from above"
possibility of new working-class political revolution
attempts to reform came too late, system by 1985 doomed
Weakening of the CPSU
Left out a fifth possibility
total collapse of Soviet system and the Soviet Union itself
C.Merridale - G's ultimate failure was his refusal to give support to reformers within and outside CPSU, lack of clear plan
no plans to replace it --> one of the biggest cause of the collapse
D.Maples and A.Brown
Gorbachev is "genuine but cautious reformer"
R. Service and D. Volkogonov
US
Gorbachev is "mainly leninist whose commitment to reform was limited
nuclear arms race --> increased distortion --> ultimate collapse of economic and political structure