Eastern Europe, Gorbachev and Reform

Fülszöveg

When Mikhail Gorbachev came to power in March 1985, he declared that his "first commandment" would be the im-provement of relations with Eastern Europe. Facing him has been a challenge which goes to the very heart of socialism. Committed to the reform of socialism and believing it to be an ideology capable of establishing itself beyond the bounda-ries of the Soviet ünion, Gorbachev has stated that in order for socialism to survive, fundamental changes must be made not only in the CJSSR but alsó in Eastern Europe.
Will Gorbachev be able to improve the viability and stability of these regimes without unleashing societal forces which could threaten the reform movement in both Eastern Europe and the CJSSR, a phenomenon that has occurred many times before? In proposing changes which would produce more openness in Soviet-East European relations, does Gorbachev feel confident that the reputation of both socialism as a sys-tem and the (JSSR as the dominant partner in those relations can... Tovább

Fülszöveg

When Mikhail Gorbachev came to power in March 1985, he declared that his "first commandment" would be the im-provement of relations with Eastern Europe. Facing him has been a challenge which goes to the very heart of socialism. Committed to the reform of socialism and believing it to be an ideology capable of establishing itself beyond the bounda-ries of the Soviet ünion, Gorbachev has stated that in order for socialism to survive, fundamental changes must be made not only in the CJSSR but alsó in Eastern Europe.
Will Gorbachev be able to improve the viability and stability of these regimes without unleashing societal forces which could threaten the reform movement in both Eastern Europe and the CJSSR, a phenomenon that has occurred many times before? In proposing changes which would produce more openness in Soviet-East European relations, does Gorbachev feel confident that the reputation of both socialism as a sys-tem and the (JSSR as the dominant partner in those relations can emerge strengthened from an open debate about the ef-fects of four decades of stagnation and abuse?
Success in this effort will allow reformed socialism to put down real and lasting roots in Eastern Europe. It would rank amongst Gorbachev's greatest achievements. However, many of these countries in the past have shown themselves to be both fiercely anti-Soviet and strongly attached to a Western cultural heritage. Reform in Eastern Europe, therefore, carries much greater risks than reform in the (JSSR. For this reason, it is alsó Gorbachev's greatest challenge.
It is this tension between East European aspirations for closer ties with the "West" and Gorbachev's desire to reform, but strengthen, their relations with the "East" which is at the core of this major new study by Karén Dawisha. The interplay between long-term Soviet and East European interests in the region are discussed as part of this comprehensive analysis of Soviet political, economic and security policies in the region. Cover design by Dennis M. Arnold Vissza