Gorbachev, Perestroika and Democratizing Socialism: Consequences and Contradictions

Continues an examination of the Gorbechev era (1985‐91) in Soviet development as an example of a movement towards a more democratized form of Soviet‐style socialism. An earlier artilce focused on underlying causes and origins of this democratized version of Soviet socialism and its institutions and policy measures. Extends analysis of the Gorbachev period to consideration of its economic and political consequences and its tensions and contradictions, leading to disintegration of the Soviet politico‐economic system.