EXPLAINING REGIME CHANGE IN THE SOVIET UNION

In: The Pacific review, Band 46, Heft 1, S. 29-45

Abstract

AS SCHOLARS ANALYZE THE COLLAPSE OF THE SOVIET COMMUNIST SYSTEM, THEY MUST EXPLAIN HOW A POLITICAL SYSTEM THAT HAD EVERY APPEARANCE OF POTENCY IN 1985 BECAME INCREASINGLY INEFFECTIVE AND FINALLY DISINTEGRATED BY LATE 1991. TO DO SO, THEY MUST FOCUS ON THE NATURE OF POWER IN THE OLD SYSTEM AND ON THE PROCESS OF TRANSFORMATION. FOR THE LATTER, THE COMPARATIVE LITERATURE ON TRANSITIONS TO DEMOCRACY IS HELPFUL, ESPECIALLY ITS THESIS THAT REGIME CHANGE IS A PROCESS THAT DEVELOPS ITS OWN DYNAMIC IN WHICH THE INTENT OF LEADING ACTORS DIFFERS FROM THE RESULTS. IN ADDITION, THE TWO MOST TRADITIONAL CONCEPTS USED IN SOVIET STUDIES--NAMELY, TOTALITARIANISM AND POLITICAL CULTURE--ARE MORE EXPLANATORY THAT MIGHT BE EXPECTED.